Babyback  5.5

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Type:  Trad Consensus:  5.5 [details] FA:  ? Submitted By:  Michael Walker on Oct 20, 2001 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (4) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

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Subject to Seasonal Closures MORE INFO >>> The following crags are typically closed 1 February to 31 July: The Goose Goose Eggs East Ridge Mars Block Nebel Horn Tower of the Moon Jamcrack Spire The Pyramid Incognito Crag Devil's Thumb Shadow Fax Isolation Rock Sunset Wall Devil's Wing (W. Face) The Matron Lost & Found The Sibling Toddler Rock Sphinx Medusa Details. In addition, Mallory Cave, Harmon Cave, and Seal View Cave are permanently closed to human use to reduce the chance of introducing white-nose syndrome. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment Flatirons Climbing Council Preserving climbing access in the Flatirons

Description 

So you're feeling sick? Maybe climbing with a rank amateur? Feel the need to tick EVERY climb in the guidebook? This is a short one, won't hurt you and the view from the top earns one star.

Begin at the base of The Knack (see that route description), drop your pack and gear up. Then scramble upslope to find the start of Babyback. Located at almost the top of the Dihedral area of the East Ridge, find the first splitter crack to the right of the end of the ridge. The crack starts from a "raised area sporting trees" above the gully and requires a little scrambling to reach the base. Heck, once you've climbed to the base of the crack you're halfway to the top already!

Begin with some fine lie backs and hand jams, cruising 20' or so until the crack widens beyond fist size. This is the "crux" and serves to make the finish interesting. If this was 100' feet long there would be a line to climb it. But it's not, and wow, at the top already? Set up a quick anchor in convenient cracks above the climb and enjoy a very fine view of the Indian Peaks to your west and the Goose below and east.

The easiest way off is to move your belay East down the ridgetop to the two bolt anchor for Fountain of Youth. You can do this safely by easing down a wide crack/slot separating the Babyback rib and the Fountain of Youth rib. It's a little awkward, and being roped may make the downclimb a little less stressful, but you may not feel it's necessary. Rap back to your waiting pack at the base of the Knack.

Protection 

SR.