Climbing Near Cañon City, Colorado

Table Mountain South, not to be confused with South Table Mountain in Golden, had a short mesa top composed of "two columnar jointed, cliff-forming lava flows" - these are generally referred to as basaltic, latite or shoshonite. They contain "augite, plagioclase, and olivine altered to serpentine, with accessory sanidine, orthoclase, apatite, magnetite, and biotite." The rock is similar in appearance to Eldorado Canyon, but it is different. Alas, it has be demolished. This was a very fine grained stone with terrific features separated by blank, featureless surfaces. The crags were 35 to 50 feet in height, largely vertical, and tended toward the moderate grades (5.8 to 5.12-). A few trad routes had been established, but, most routes were well-bolted with good lowering stations. The mesa itself faces South and East and gets good sun until later in the evening. The setting was rather bucolic being so close to civilization. Presently, there were about 25 or so routes, with not much room for more. Further West around the mountain was a decent bouldering area. I thought that this was a nice area for a change in style and pace, and if you are looking for fun, safe moderates, it was worth a visit.Eds. The geology of the rock types quoted come from the Wikipedia entry, which may help us climbers understand a wee bit more of the rock and its properties. Table Mountain South lies between Colorado Springs and Canon City just off Highway 115. The following will work for all points North and South via Interstate 25. From I25 in CS, take exit 140 S/W. At Nevada Ave (highway 115), head South toward Canyon City. At Fort Carson the road narrows to two lanes; from here travel South/West for 15.5 miles. Following a long curve, a recently improved dirt road will take off to the right, through the fence, and head up-hill toward the mesa top that has been view for the last 2 -3 miles. At 1.8 miles, and nearing the top of the mesa, a meadow arises on the right. Park and follow some faint tire tracks toward the top. Across the meadow, a trail will appear that takes you up a small rise, another meadow, and a second short rise to the talus field below the crags. This amounts to about 15 minutes of hiking. This area is and has been closed since at least 2005. Some rumors suggested that the rock has been quarried.

The whole climbing area is assumed under the name Shambala. The talus field below the mesa top reveals the the whole thing.

Cañon City, is located at the mouth of the Royal Gorge in the foothills of the Rockies, 100 miles from Denver, 45 miles southwest of Colorado Springs, and 35 miles west of Pueblo. The Arkansas River extends the entire 60-mile length of Fremont County and flows through the City of Canon City. The Canon City metropolitan area has a total population in excess of 30,000. Sheltered in a beautiful valley, Cañon City, elev. 5,343 feet, features a mild and hospitable climate year round. Canon City is said to be in the banana belt of Colorado, seeing very few days of extreme weather each year. The warm days are cooled by temperate evenings. Snowfall is usually light and quickly melts under the warm Colorado sunshine that prevails over 325 days a year. Humidity remains comfortably low throughout the year. "Indian Summer" reaches long into the fall, with warm, sunny days and cool, pleasant nighttime temperatures. With all this going for it, you can understand why Shelf Road is one of the most popular Winter, Fall and Spring sport climbing destinations not only in Colorado but the country. Also, one of the main sources of economy for the town is the penitentiary systems here. Beware of picking up hitchhikers! The Royal Gorge has interesting potential (unclear access issues) with rock walls to 1000 feet and ice drips that drop to the river. At one point, there was a 1000 foot bolted 5.10 created for a specific competition. Cañon City is located on US 50 west of Pueblo, Colorado, approximately 50 miles from Pueblo, 45 miles from Colorado Springs (1h) and 115 miles from Denver (2h). Map of Cañon City. If you are climbing at Shelf Road, there is plenty of camping available; however it can get pretty cold during the winter. If you want a real bed to sleep in check out these options:Budget Host Royal Gorge Inn217 N. Raynolds Ave.Cañon City, CO 81212719-269-1100It is located on US 50 by Burger King, right at the turnoff to Shelf Road. It's a nice, clean motel with refrigerators in the rooms, HBO on TV, and an indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna. In March, rates were $65/night for a room with 2 queen beds ($60 for AAA members).There are lots of other motels in town (Super 8, Best Western, etc.)Beer: you can buy beer and wine at Gateway Liquors located at, 3055 E US Highway 50 #A. They are situated across from Wal-Mart, about 2 blocks from the Budget Host Motel.Breakfast places: try the Waffle Wagon, a local place that's only open for breakfast and lunch. They are at 1310 Royal Gorge Blvd (US 50). Also good is the Bufmack Cafe at 325 Main Street. Both places are decent, local breakfast places with good prices for egg, pancake, and waffle breakfasts. Just the sort of thing to stock up on before heading to Shelf Road and a day of pulling pockets! Try out Bean Peddler on Main Street for a morning coffee and some breakfast pastries or tacos. They also are connected to a bike shop that also sells a few climbing products. Dinner places: try the Wild West Steak House, at 3245 E US 50. They have good beer on tap, and free salted peanuts in the shell in a metal bucket; you throw the shells on the floor. Good for steak, prime rib, ribs, shrimp dishes. Has a salad bar.Pizza Madness has good pizza, but it is limited for beer. Domino's Pizza is always an option as well.There are good Mexican (El Caporal) and Italian (Merlino's Belvedere) restaurants in town. See the new Shelf Road guidebook;q=39 for info.Check out Julian's for a quick local Mexican eat, Nirvana Culinary Paradise, and Yummy Thai, all on Main St for some great local options.Ice Cream: there is still a Baskin Robbins on US 50. You Scream Treat Emporium between US 50 and Main near downtown may be the best local ice cream around.  You can try NOAA for info. See a bat on a route, give a shout. Climbers for Bat Conservation is working with climbers to understand bat ecology and why bats choose certain cracks and flakes. If you see bats, and want to tell them, here is their email (climbersforbats@colostate.edu) and their website ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).Climbers for Bat Conservation is a collaboration between climbers, bat biologists, and land managers to understand where bats roost and where large populations may reside. They are interested in finding bats because a new disease, called white-nose syndrome ( whitenosesyndrome.org/), has killed millions of bats in North America. This collaboration has identified bat roosts throughout the U.S., and as far away as Norway and Bulgaria. CBC was developed by biologists who climb and they are advocates for climbing access and bat conservation. If you see bats while climbing, please let them know by emailing them at climbersforbats@colostate.edu, or visiting their website to learn more ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).Rob SchorrZoologist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program ( sites.warnercnr.colostate.e…)Director, Climbers for Bat ConservationRobert.schorr@colostate.edu