This area is closed for raptor nesting from February 1, 2006 through July 31, 2006.
BETA PHOTO: Stars and Stripes Wall
Description
Golden Eagle starts about 20 ft to the right of Eagle Hardware after a small scramble up the right angling ramp. The climbing starts off the ramp on a short slab that rapidly steepens. For me, the most difficult move arose immediately at the end of the slab in hauling over a small overlap on very small, crisp edges. A short transition into the dihedral set up another cruxy move, in the dihedral itself. This was followed by more moderate climbing to the anchors. Overall, the quality of the rock was superb, often edgy, and typical of the best Boulder Canyon granite. Three stars for the quality of the rock, the climbing moves, and the continuity. Unlike Eagle Hardware to the left, Golden Eagle did not seem over bolted. The clips were all from stances and just where I wanted them.
Protection
QD only. This route is about 80ft long with 10 or 11 bolts and a double bolt anchor at the top.
There is a dorm-fridge size semi-detached block just below the anchors, and in fact the most natural hold to use to clip the anchors is the jug formed by the top of this block. If you are climbing this route, especially after rain, please exercise caution. The reason I believe the block to be suspect is that I was up there on a wet day (and in fact broke a mango-size hold off lower on the route both to my and my belayer's surprise), and noticed that water seeps behind the entire block and comes out a mossy crack on the underside. On that wet day, tapping also created bad bad bad vibrations. If there is agreement that the block is dangerous, perhaps it could be trundled (this would have to be done very cautiously, because it's likely to cause a rockslide). In the meantime, note that it is not really necessary to even touch this block when climbing this route. Just to the left is an equally big feature that is sound; you can easily crank on top of this and clip the anchors from the stance on top. Great moves on this route. I'd rate it 5.11, 2 stars.
Really fun route. Ridiculously over bolted. You never climb more than 1 foot above a bolt on this route, and can clip over your head with a bolt at your waist. And that's *Boulder Canyon* 11b. As in 5.10 in Eldo. The moves really are fun though.
Eagle Rock
RSS Feed
