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Gollum's Cave

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Gollum's Cave

Submitted By: dbyte on Sep 15, 2008
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac
Views: 1,008 page views

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Description 

Short, steep routes in a secluded alcove. Often buggy in the Summer. The cave is broken up into 2 sections. The lower section will be the 1st you come to if arriving from the west. It features Master of Reality, a classic & testy 5.12 roof crack. The upper section gets more sun. It contains Escher's Staircase, 1 of the steeper 5.10s on the Pass.


Getting There 

Park at the Grottos Day Use area. Follow the trail over the bridge & go left shortly after the Ice Caves trail intersection (~1/4 mile). Descend into the lower lefthand end of the Cave. A 5-minute walk at most.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Gollum's Cave:
Escher's Staircase   5.10b     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   
Bilbo Bagging   5.11b     Sport, 1 pitch, 45 feet   
Master of Reality   5.12a     Trad, 1 pitch, 45 feet   
Browse More Classics in Gollum's Cave

Featured Route For Gollum's Cave
Matt starting up the splitter fingers in the corner. Dave being super safe (i.e. helmet) on the belay.

Master of Reality 5.12a  CO : Independence Pass : Gollum's Cave
Classic. The obvious crack in a corner that goes out the big roof directly overhead. Located after The Troll & before you have to scramble up big blocks to the upper section. Start laybacking/stemming a finger crack to a rest at the base of the roof. Place gear, chalk up & get ready to fight for those last 12 feet to the chains. Most will find getting into the roof itself to be the crux....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO