Silk Road 

FA:  Type:  Mixed, Ice Consensus:  WI3 M5 [details] Length:  5 pitches, 600 feet, Grade III Season:  Winter Views: 1,455 page views Submitted By: Ben Collett on Jan 12, 2007 Add Photo  Add Comment

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BETA PHOTO: The Silk Road on 1-20-07. The route taken has bee...

Description 

This route climbs the gully on the far right side of the east face of the First Flatiron. In excellent condition, this route would be trivial, however more normal conditions will require some rock climbing, some sketchy climbing on snice, some thin ice and some proper mixed climbing. Figure out how to get off the ground and into the bottom of the gully. Cruise up this with little in the way of protection until you reach a nice big patch of shady snow where the gully widens. A rock belay can be found here. The next pitch may well be the crux. Climb up a right facing corner with some thin ice and to a belay at a tree. Pull past this tree into another snowpatch. From here, we climbed into the corner on the right side of the gully and rock climbed easily to the top. From the top of the gully, one may continue to the top of the 1st Flatiron or just drop over the other side of the ridge and walk back down.

All in all a satisfying Flatiron experience.

Protection 

Rock gear from nuts to hand size.

Add Photo Photos of Silk Road

The first pitch of The Silk Road, taken 1-20-07. ...	Approaching the base of the gully and the start of...	1st pitch of Silk Road 1/21/07. Good stuff!!
Mark ?? climbing alternate finish to Silk Road.	Kelly Carignan on Silk Road, near midnight during ...