Inaugural Crag

A commemorative route on Inaugural Crag: January 2...

Description 

What were you doing on January 20, 2009? The first route on the relatively diminutive Inaugural Crag was put up shortly after the inauguration, hence the commemorative name. IC is a south facing crag composed of almost perfect granite. It should be host to half a dozen routes from low angle slabs to gently overhanging faces. IC gets good sun most of the day. While the hill-side above IC is very broken up, there are other good granite crags with potential for much longer routes. The first route in on IC has been called "Ascendancy", in recognition of Barack Obama's election. Ascendancy was bolted and cleaned on Jan. 20th. A run through the next day revealed it to pack a lot of strenuous punch in 60ft. Presently there are six routes established on the crag.

Getting There 

Traveling west on I-70, Inaugural Crag is approached from a pullout 1.9 miles west of the exit 232 sign for Empire. The pullout will get a car far enough off I-70 that the police won't tag the vehicle. IC is readily visible low on the hill side 0.1 miles east of the pullout. No specific trail exists at this point although a system of cairns maps an easy way through the fragile terrain.

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