Gateway Vicinity aka The West End  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  13,903. Good page?    Administrators:  Jesse Zacher, Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Matthew Seymour on Oct 15, 2009 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed 86° | 55° 82° | 50° 81° | 50° 79° | 50° 70° | 43°

Chilling with Vern, Charles' dad and an old uraniu...

Description 

The far western sections of Colorado are pretty wild. What settlements there are are based upon ranching and uranium exploration. Due to its nature and relative inaccessibility climbers have been late to develop this quiet corner of the state.

The cliffs detailed in this part of Unaweep are spread out roughly along CO-141 between the heart of Unaweep and the small town of Uravan. Once you travel further than, this the cliffs continue but are described in the Naturita/Nucla section of this database.

Many of the known cliff in this area were developed by Charlie Fowler and others from Telluride. There is, however, much to still be explored.

Getting There 

From Grand Junction, Colorado. Head south out of town on US-50, towards Montrose and Delta. After traveling about 9 miles south of Grand Junction, turn right on CO-141, toward Gateway. This intersection is located in the small town of Whitewater.

Follow CO-141 past Nine Mile Hill, and continue for a several miles past all the granite cliffs in central Unaweep. Eventually the road drops steeply through a narrow section in the canyon with some sharper turns. After this the canyon opens up to reveal a huge valley with sandstone cliffs in every direction.

The Classics

Featured Route For Gateway Vicinity aka The West End

Immoral Disapproval 5.12-  CO : Grand Junction area : ... : The Palisade

The route climbs the east side of the Palisade prow. P1: Climb a short, 5.10, hands splitter to a large ledge, 30'.P2: Go up an offwidth (5.10) to an alcove (optional gear belay). Continue up a left-facing corner to a bolted anchor below the obvious splitter.P3: Climb the hands to fingers to hands splitter (100') ending on a ledge with bolted anchors. Descent: rappel the route with 2 ropes....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO