Backporch is the finger of rock directly behind Frontporch. It can be found in the 2nd tier of rocks on Dinosaur mountain. This finger like tower has an V-shaped overhang on its east face. There couple trad routes in the 5.6-5.7 range and a sick 5.13 roof problem, The Five Year Plan, on the west side.
Getting There
Follow the Porch Alley trail as described for Frontporch. The trail seems to branch on the south side of Frontporch. Take the left hand branch, since the other faint trail goes behind Frontporch. Follow this trail which heads back to the north after you are above Lost porch. Lost porch is a small Flatiron that is hidden behind Frontporch. This trail will lead you to the base.
On 10/27/2004 Will Clopton and I replaced the two aging 1/4" bolts and 20 lbs of rotting slings and cordelettes on top of the Backporch with two 3/8" 5-piece SS Rawl bolts. We added 3/8" quick links for rappelling. The new bolts are located on the west face of the summit block about five feet from the location of the original bolts. Though there is ample natural protection for a belay on top, the bolts can also be clipped for the belay.
This work was supported by the American Safe Climbing Association (www.safeclimbing.org) and the Anchor Replacement Initiative (www.climbing.com/ari).
Though the bolts on top facilitate a 150-foot rappel to the ground, there is a midway rappel anchor (slings through a hole). Will and I removed all the old (and very poorly arranged at that) slings from that anchor and put in four new slings and 3 rappel rings. Since it is a bit complicated to begin this rappel, we added the third ring so that climbers may have the option to clip their daisy into this ring to help getting started with the rappel.
I replaced the anchor atop the first pitch of Five Year Plan (Space-Time Inversion). Much thanks to the ASCA for supplying the bolts. Please support them if you don't already. Also, thanks to Rick Hatfield with the OSMP for the speedy application approval. I left the single star drive bolt near the lip of the overhang, 15ft below the true anchor. It is not needed as there is a great 0.75 Camalot placement just below it and great gear above it, but I didn't have approval to chop it and I wasn't about to update it since there is no need to.
I had intended to update this anchor last summer when I was working this thing, but after I sent it, I just couldn't bring myself to do the hike until now (nor could I convince anyone else to hike up there with me). To the person currently working the route, thank you for removing the fixed gear and "soap stone" just after those fixed nuts. None of the fixed nuts or RPs were mine, but I never bothered to remove them. Also, if you left a piece of gear to back up the anchor, identify it and I'll return it to you.
The gear is great, the anchor bomber, and the falls are nothing but air. More people should get on this thing!
How about adding 5 Year Plan/Space Time Inversion to this database? A little history on Dale freeing the Briggs route would be cool. Jason - how is the Flatirons guide coming along?
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