C'est La Morte 5.9
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| Type: | Trad, 1 pitch, 160 feet |
| Consensus: | 5.9 [details] |
| FA: | Duncan Ferguson and John Bragg, 1974. |
| Submitted By: | Ben Schneider on Jan 1, 2001 |
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Finishing Flakes with the crux of C'est La Morte.....
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2013 Raptor Nesting Closure in effect - NOW LIFTED MORE INFO >>>
As of Feb. 1, 2013, a seasonal wildlife closure is in effect on Redgarden Wall in Eldorado Canyon State Park to protect nesting and roosting sites of the canyon’s falcons. The closure starts Feb. 1 through July 31, or until further notice and includes the following climbing routes: The Naked Edge (last 3 pitches only), The Diving Board, Centaur, Redguard (last 3 pitches only), Red Ant, Semi-Wild, Anthill Direct (last 3 pitches only), and The Sidetrack. For more info, visit dnr.state.co.us/newsapp/press.asp?PressId=8152 From an Eldorado Canyon tweet, the Redgarden Wall closures were lifted May 6, 2013.
This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund,
and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates.
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Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment
Action Committee for Eldorado
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Description Begin atop some boulders at the base of the prominent wall just a hundred meters north of the large cement slab by the river. Traverse up and left in the rotten band with poor pro. Reach a huge flake with good pro - place pro as far right as you can, and add a long runner to it. Surmount the flake, head right and around a corner (tricky - stay low to make it easier). Follow a beautiful finger crack up and right until it meets another crack (where you will find two pins - use really long runners). Now work up then sharply left to a two-bolt anchor. Expect bad rope drag. 160 feet. You can rappel with on 60m rope if you are very careful and downclimb from the ledge.
Protection RPs, standard rack.
Location This begins just right of C'est La Vie.
The gear is tenuous on this 5.6 traverse until you...
| Jason Baker warming up with the classic "C'est La ...
| Relaxing near the first "good" pro.
| Below the crux.
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| Comments on C'est La Morte |
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By Charles Vernon From: Florence, AZ Jan 1, 2001
| The "easy" climbing goes something like this: after traversing up and left (along a sort of rock stratum, toward Cest la Vie), traverse back right under a small overhang, head up a thin, right leaning crux crack, and then traverse back left to the fixed anchor (near the right margin of the large Cest la Vie dihedral). Bring 2 ropes to rappel. |
By John Keller Aug 29, 2001
| The anchors at the top of C'est La Morte and Whistle Stop (they end with the same upper part of the crack and left traverse) are set such that one 165ft rope will get you down... JUST BARELY... to the boulders leaning on the wall. Make sure the ends are even! |
By flynn Oct 17, 2002
| Three stars might be a little generous, but it's still a pretty good route. I remember it having an appetite for small, springy things; in other words, TCUs are very helpful. In summer, too, it sports an active hive of small wasps that don't seem particularly aggressive, though they are numerous. Naturally, they're housed very near the crux. The comment about a 50m rope just reaching the 'ledge' is completely accurate. The ends of the rope come through your ATC (or whatever) just as your feet touch. Mind your balance! |
By Ernie Port From: Boulder, Colorado Jul 2, 2003 rating: 5.9
| Cool, exposed moves half way up, as you exit the lower face moving right and connecting with the upper crack. Same finish as Flakes. From the chains, 60m rope took us right to the start with rope to spare. |
By Clint Locks From: Boulder Jun 24, 2004 rating: 5.9
| Remember to protect the second at the end of the climb, before the anchors. It'd be a pretty good swing. By that, of course, I mean a pretty BAD swing. |
By Shane Zentner From: Colorado Oct 9, 2004 rating: 5.9
| Fun climb. I didn't see the 'RP crack' that the guidebook mentioned. A bit cool in the shade, smokin' in the sunlight. This would be a fun winter route. |
By Eric Goltz From: Boulder, CO Oct 27, 2005
| Sweet route, at least as good as C'est la Vie (p1). Don't bother with gear until the undercling. I didn't find RPs necessary... the crack sews up with medium stoppers. |
By Ivan Rezucha From: Boulder, CO Dec 29, 2005 rating: 5.9+
| A very good variation is to climb the variation left of The Flakes start (the right-angling ramp) to the left edge of the Flakes ledge and then step left to the base of the C'est la Morte crack (see Guy Humphrey's photo, but note that the 2nd and 3rd visible pieces of gear in that photo are on thumpy rock--I didn't use either of those). The rope runs straighter than either the regular C'est la Morte, The Flakes or the regular Flakes start to C'est la Morte. Gear is good. A #3 Camalot at the ledge with a double length sling protects the step left to the base of the C'est la Morte crack, and a #2 Camalot up and left will keep you there (at the base of the crack). |
By Steve "Crusher" Bartlett Mar 16, 2007
| In Guy Humphrey's excellent photo, the climber has a piece attached to a long purple runner behind a "thumpy" flake (third piece from bottom of the photo). This flake is AWOL. The reach up into the crack is now a tad harder. Still felt like 5.9-ish, but this felt like the crux move of the pitch. |
By Mike C. Robinson From: Rumney, NH Apr 22, 2007 rating: 5.9 R
| Great Climb! Questionable gear at the start, but it is only 5 or 6 so enjoy it! |
By Jay Eggleston From: Littleton Jul 21, 2009
| This is a good pitch. It is more engaging than either The Flakes or Whistle Stop. |
By Phil Lauffen From: Louyuppie Sep 26, 2009
| Dude, I got a great #1 Ballnut in behind one of those solid(er) looking rocks in the 5.6 section. Totally bomber. Also, totally nasty rope drag at the top. Be smarter than me. Place long runners on your pieces before moving right around the roof. |
By Rodger Raubach Mar 12, 2011 rating: 5.9-
| I did this route many years ago before some of the loose flakes were "cleaned off." My comment in my notebook was "the lower pro is only as good as the flakes." I'd suggest breaking it into 2 short leads to reduce rope drag. A single 60 meter rope should suffice to get off, and a 70 meter is "no sweat." |
By Ian Cavanaugh Mar 8, 2013
| Great route. Use some double length runners on the first half, and rope drag should be just fine. |
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