Living in Estes. Haven't been to Boulder in two days. I wanna climb a flattie or maybe at west ridge tomorrow. Did y'all get enough snow melt these past two days to make that possible? Cold as hell up here but the weather report showed sun and warmth in Boulder and I wanna make sure it's climbable so I don't waste time driving down there.
West Ridge is definitely good to go. Flatirons E faces may be more dependant on your comfort level with somewhat wet and snowy slab. Probably possible, most likely not too fun. Anything S facing will be great (S face of the Maiden is always a good time).
Was climbing shirtless at the Bihedral yesterday so get out while the getting is good!
Looking at them out the window from work now. Most east face slabs seem about 70% snow/ice free. You would likely need to deviate a bit from most routes to avoid it, but for the most part, they are clear and dry.
Tony B
·
Jan 13, 2016
·
Around Boulder, CO
· Joined Jan 2001
· Points: 24,665
Just be sure to hit a flatiron with good traffic (no moss/lichen) and good sun at the base. Otherwise they tend to be really tenuous at the start. Apporaches to some of the more 'backcountry' slabs can also be an issue, and high slabs, IE the Devil's Wings are not only guarded by a bunch of knee-deep post-holing into talus, but also by snow and ice that has been there since they froze in in early December. Some of the Chautauqua and Dino Mt flatirons are primo all year though!
I would also note that if it warms up quick, the ice on the east faces tends to sheer off in mini seracs and tumble down in a random fall line (ricocheting off the rock), so even if you're climbing up things that are dry, you can be in the line of sight of some huge icicle coming down.
I got hit pretty hard by a projectile on the Third a snow or two ago. The gully at P1 was a shooting range. If I hear a constant stream of things when approaching, I'd just as well pick something else out. This happens a bunch in Skunk Canyon as well - except it'll hit you at the base of most of easier climbs.
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