This is the smaller multi-summited tower next to Montezuma Tower in the middle of the Garden of the Gods. It holds a wild 5.2 ridge route and some old aid lines, and has an excellent summit.
Getting There
Park at the main parking lot in the Garden of the Gods. Walk in between the large Gateway Rocks past the Twin Spires. The Three Graces is the smaller spire next to Montezuma Tower.
A young male local climber died as a result of a fall from this formation last week. In talking with the search and rescue folks, I learned that he was climbing up the south ridge on the easternmost of the three slabs of rock that make up the Three Graces. He climbed up about 30' without protection, put in a cam behind a 4" thick flake and fell on the first move above the flake. A 12x12 inch chunk of the flake broke off as the cam expanded. The climber fell straight down about 10' then apparently his feet caught on the rock and he flipped over and landed head first.
Climbing this ridge may be relatively easy but good protection is virtually non-existent. In addition, the rock is rather funky, even by GOG standards, and is even worse given the rains of the past couple of months. Climbing too high to a first protection point; counting on a cam behind a flake of weak, possibly wet sandstone; and not wearing a helmet may have all contributed to this tragic accident.
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