Some crags in this area are closed 1 February to 31 July: MORE INFO >>>
The following crags are closed 1 February to 31 July: First Pinnacle (Gregory Canyon) Second Pinnacle (Gregory Canyon) Third Pinnacle (Gregory Canyon) Third Flatiron Queen Anne's Head WC Fields Pinnacle The Ghetto East Ironing Board West Ironing Board The Fin Green Thumb Jaws
John Baldwin on 2nd lead of Fire on the Mountain, ...
Description
The fourth of four main ridges on the north side of Skunk Canyon as you bushwack in. Almost all the routes are on the west face, none of which I have done. It's pretty and remote, with beautiful views of the Sacred Cliffs.
Getting There
Take the Mesa trail to skunk canyon. North of NCAR where the trail dives down and then back up, follow it up the switchbacks until the last one, then take the trail around the fence and head back into skunk canyon. You'll stay on the right side of the canyon for a while, then abruptly switch to the left side about 15 feet above the creek. After 500 yards you'll come to an incredibly huge boulder forming a cave with a wall on the south side of the creek. You can cruise through this cave via a small hole (low 5th class) or go around to the right. From here, continue another 300 yards up and right.
The base of the east face is a very low angled slab with a roof ending on the east end with a flaring crack running out of that corner. About 50 feet above that corner you can see a crack/flake system about 20 feet above the ground that leads up to the ridge.
For descent, you can scramble down the gullies on either side of the rock, or continue up to the pinnacle above you. We elected to bushwack from there n/nw, meeting up with the Green Mountain trail just before the summit. Not sure that this is the most efficient way of getting home...
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Ridge 4 aka Mohling Arete:
Mohling Arete 5.5 R Trad, Alpine, 10 pitches, 1500 feet
Spot the classic crack leading up and out the roof above. From the ledge system, climb the thin line over minor bulges to the splitter roof crack. Undercling and finger jam to the lip. Small wires and Friends. ...[more]Browse More Classics in CO
Print a Mini-Guide - Includes Routes!
RSS Feed
