Mountain Project Logo

Any slate climbing in CO?

Original Post
Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306

I have a visitor coming from the UK. She loves slate. Any areas in Colorado worth checking out with a variety of 5.8 and under in trad, or 5.9 - 5.10 in sport? I'm hoping for something that doesn't involved to much danger to access, but I'll take what I can get.

Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306

Oh we'll be doing a bunch of other stuff. Eldo, Lumpy, SSV, Big Thompson Canyon, Moab, maybe a little in Zion and The Grand Canyon, and Shelf Road. Just wondering if there's any slate. Partly because I'd like to try it.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

I sure liked the slate in Wales when I was there. In CO ? I don't think so..you have to travel east for the slick rock

Maybe some basalt ? NM ?

Mathias · · Loveland, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 306

Okay, thanks John. I guess she'll just have to climb everything else! :D And I'll wait til I go to Wales.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640
Mathias wrote:Okay, thanks John. I guess she'll just have to climb everything else! :D And I'll wait til I go to Wales.
At Trywll Mahr (sp) "The Big Hole" is UK's longest sport climb 160m 5.9/10 just done.
teece303 · · Highlands Ranch, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 596

Do we have any actual slate or shale rock anywhere in Colorado?

I am not aware of any and I have never climbed any. Woods Quarry above just looks like a sandstone quarry. Isn't slate some kind of cooked sedimentary rock?

I've climbed on gneiss, granite, basalt, and sandstones in Colorado.

Mike Marmar · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 67

Shale is a sedimentary rock, usually composed mostly of mud and clay. It's basically compressed mud.

Slate is metamorphosed shale...so cooked compressed mud.

I don't think CO has much of either. We have a bit of slate (and shale) in UT. I have seen bands of it in big cottonwood. The slate we have is no good for climbing. Think stacked dinner plates.

First Track Jack · · Evergreen, CO · Joined May 2014 · Points: 140

Slate is metamorphosed shale.

I am not aware of any slate in Colorado.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
Post a Reply to "Any slate climbing in CO?"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.