The Vestibule  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  68,400. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Jesse Ryan on Apr 16, 2002 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 59° | 34° 64° | 36° 64° | 43° 73° | 43° 75° | 45°

Walk through corridor
from The Vestibule, to the V...

Description 

The Vestibule is the spectacular corridor leading through the major towers of the Monastery. Here you'll find alternately steep slabs on the southeast (right) side of the corridor and vertical to steeper rock on the northwest facing (left) side of the corridor. Routes that can be described in the Vestibule include those in the corridor proper and in the side corridors (the Balcony, Hallowed Hall and Inner Sanctum). Besides the amazing views across the valley and mountains with Longs rising above it all you'll have classics like Tabula Rasa (5.10c), Stolen Land (5.11c), Psychatomic (5.12d), 911 (5.11c/d), and Suspended Animation (5.11a) waiting for the send. The routes in the main corridor can be much different than the Needle's like affairs the Monastery normally offers, instead crisp edges and holds on a finer grained rock for a great change of pace.

Getting There 

From the end of the approach trail at the Guardian (two steep bolted lines here) continue straight into the opening of the corridor, passing a log on the left. Shortly you will be dropping down in elevation with views of Longs (on a good day) before you and routes to either side. It is possible to reach the outer gates through the last two southeast corridors (Hallowed Hall and Inner Sanctum) and not without serious scrambling through the first two minor corridors or the third (the Balcony). Exit the Vestibule to the northwest to reach the Catacombs or the next section of rocks, the Lion's Den.

Route Order 

Due to the nature of the Vestibule, routes are listed in the "L to R" list in approximate order as you would approach from North to South (or from the top of the hill towards the bottom). There are routes on both sides of the various corridors, so a given route on the East wall may be listed as "right" of a route on the West wall, if that route is the next line approached when heading down hill.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Vestibule

Tabula Rasa 5.10c  CO : Estes Park Valley : ... : The Vestibule

Photogenic and amazing. Climbs the left side of the Altar, a clean detached spire of rock halfway down the right side of the Vestibule. Perfect photo op, have a friend hike back up the Vestibule and snap profile pics with Long's in the background. The climb is nicer than the view. It is thin, balancy and continous. Thank you Lawrence....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO