Along with the Narrows Proper (aka The Notch), The Front Porch has the best rock at the Narrows and almost every route here is excellent. The cliff is also the closest to the road and it may be the closest climbing to Carbondale. The cliff receives morning sun and there is a high concentration of well-bolted climbs, perfect for an after work jaunt or an all-day excursion. Currently, there are 7 completed routes and another route, Geeks in Tight Shoes, close by. The view from the base of the cliff makes for a great setting, with the Crystal River below and the teetering towers of choss across the river. Often, you'll see herds of bighorn sheep grazing in the valley below, particularly in the early spring and late fall. The Front Porch also dries off early after rainstorms.
Getting There
When hiking up the Narrows approach trail, The Front Porch is the first cliff on your right. There is a large boulder where the trail splits, right to The Front Porch, and left to the rest of the climbing at the Narrows. The approach takes 5 to 10 minutes.
Cleanup Hitter is a great climb, that trends left at the start and then climbs straight up on great rock, featuring two distinct and different cruxes. The first crux involves long reaches around the second and third bolts. The second crux is high on the route and is more technical in nature, featuring devious sidepulls and footwork. Cleanup Hitter shares an anchor with Party At Your Mama's House, the next route to the left. This was ...[more]
The routes on the left left side offer some engaging climbing with thoughtful, intricate sequences, but they are quite squeezed -- on every pitch there are points where you wonder if you've drifted onto an adjacent climb.
Well, several do share the same starts/finishes but we felt they climbed differently enough. Your mileage may vary. It's local choss, we do what we can.... Hope you had fun!
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