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Elevation: 7,069 ft
GPS: 39.71129, -107.69144
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 27,552 total · 101/month
Shared By: Chris Dawson on Nov 9, 2001
Admins: Alvaro Arnal, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

The "Skull Cave" is the massive cave on the East side of the canyon a bit downstream from Feline. This is a true cave, and all of the routes are completely sheltered from the rain, making this a popular hang in wet weather. However, despite the fact that no rain drop has ever touched these walls, most of the routes are often wet until mid-summer due to seepage. These lines have a rather nasty appearance, with corroded bolts, and covered in dirt and moss. Several of the once-classic lines have changed substantially over the years as the water has finally torn the choss loose.

There are a couple of worthwhile lines that are generally dry, and make for decent warmups. These lines are on the outer edges of the cave. Most of the routes going out the center of the cave are steep and hard (5.13).

Getting There Suggest change

Park downstream from the cave at a two car pullout or further down at a picknick area. Follow a trail at the "No Parking" sign up to the cave. This is the fifth crag on the right on the way into the park. Significantly large and deep, it is blocked from the road by a few trees.

L->R:

Suggest change
L->R:

A. Pile Driver, 11, 1p, bolts.
above A. Chokeslam, 12, 1p, 60', bolts.
B. Forgotten Years, 11+, 1p, 50' , bolts.
C. Skull Fuck, 13, 1p, 40', bolts.
D. Daydream Nation, 13, 1p, 60', bolts.
E. Moroni Blows, 12-, 1p, 30', bolts.
F. Cracked Open Sky, 13+, 1p, 60', bolts.
G. Bone Machine, 13, 1p, bolts.
H. Dont' Trust Whitey, 13+, 1p, 45', bolts.
I. Skeletor, 13, 1p, 40', bolts.
J. Pygmy Mastodon Boner, 12, 1p, bolts.

Folklore

Suggest change
Before climbers re-named it, the Skull Cave used to be named Old Maid's Kitchen, which is what the town locals still call it. Apparently an Old Maid of sorts used it as a kitchen to cook for some menfolk. Not much else is known.

If you think of the cave as Old Maid's Kitchen and choose not to climb here, you'll probably have a blast. If, however, you insist on seeing it as the "Skull Cave," then prepare to lock horns with a seeping, subpar climbing venue replete with sharp, barnacle-lipped pockets, oozing clumps of toxic moss and huecos filled with venomous spiders and various bits of nameless filth.

Just think of the Old Maid soloing this route in her cookin' shoes as you fumble desperately for a dirt-covered sloper at the lip of the cave and success will be yours!

16 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Skull Cave

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 214
Pile Driver
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 46
Forgotten Years
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 11
Chokeslam
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 46
Pygmy Mastodon Boner
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 14
Moroni Blows
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
Rave
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 9
Diddybop
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 5
Bone Machine
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 6
Daydream Nation
Sport
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 8
[Redacted]
Sport
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 9
Skeletor
Sport
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a
 11
Cracked Open Sky
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Pile Driver
 214
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Forgotten Years
 46
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
Chokeslam
 11
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
Pygmy Mastodon Boner
 46
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Moroni Blows
 14
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Rave
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Diddybop
 9
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Bone Machine
 5
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
Daydream Nation
 6
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
[Redacted]
 8
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Sport
Skeletor
 9
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Sport
Cracked Open Sky
 11
5.13d 8b 31 X 32 E8 7a Sport
More Classic Climbs in Skull Cave »

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