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Things Of Beauty (aka Interstate I-70 Towers)
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Alpha Tower 
Because It's There (aka Palisade Pinnacle) 
Black Tower, The 
Bug-Eyed Monster 
Mad Dogs and Englishmen 
Napoleon's Toothpick 
Passport to the Golden Age 
Sword of Damocles., The 
Tom Thumbs Tallywag 


Things Of Beauty (aka Interstate I-70 Towers)


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Submitted By: Paul Ross on Dec 31, 2007
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst
Elevation: 4,800 feet
Latitude: 39.1093  Longitude: -108.3543 
Aerial photo/map | Weather
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The Sword of Damocles. C2 70'. This was the first ...


Description 

This area was first recorded in Eric Bjornstad's Desert Rock III. Four tower climbs instigated by Pete Takeda and Duane Raleigh in 1992/3. These dirt towers of compressed shale with a sandstone cap rock can be seen as one drives passed Palisade on I-70 Interstate. These four towers climbed at that time where mostly quite short and fat. Seven years later from 2000 to 2001 Paul Ross with various partners cleaned up the area climbing nine more towers, some being extremely slim and spectacular for their size. Not great climbing, but they do have an element of risk and make great photos!! Please note the star system on these "things" apply only to this area.


Getting There 

Take Exit 42 to Palisade about 200yds from the exit take the first road on the right G.7/10 Road. Follow this...it eventually bends to the right and goes under the Interstate to the My Garfield trailhead. All climbs are hiked to from here.



Featured Route For Things Of Beauty (aka Interstate I-70 Towers)
The Sword of Damocles.... A real Beauty. P. Ross on the summit. Palisade and I-70 below.

The Sword of Damocles. C2+  CO : Palisade : Things Of Beauty (aka Inter...
Classic for the Things of Beauty!! Follow nail heads to the summit block. Pete Takeda thought this summit would be too small to stand on!...[more]


Add Photo Photos of Things Of Beauty (aka Interstate I-70 Towers)
Mt Garfield.A).Mad Dogs and Englishmen. B)Summit of Mt Garfield.C)To Napolians Toothpick and The Black Tower area.

BETA PHOTO: Mt Garfield.A).Mad Dogs and Englishmen. B)Summit o...

Mt Garfield area.A)Passport to the Golden Age.B)The Fortress (See Desert Rock III)C)Turkey Neck.(See Desert Rock III)D)Mad Dogs and Englishmen.E)To Bug-Eyed Monster and Tom Thumbs Tallywag.

BETA PHOTO: Mt Garfield area.A)Passport to the Golden Age.B)Th...

A) The Black Tower. B)Napolians Toothpick. C)Alpha Tower. X)unclimbed

BETA PHOTO: A) The Black Tower. B)Napolians Toothpick. C)Alpha...

A)The Fortress.B)Passport to the Golden Age.C)Turkey Neck.D)To:- Tom Thumbs Tallywag and Bug-Eyed Monster.

BETA PHOTO: A)The Fortress.B)Passport to the Golden Age.C)Turk...

A)The Sword Of Damocles as seen from Interstate I.70....

BETA PHOTO: A)The Sword Of Damocles as seen from Interstate I....

A small nasty looking 30/40' unclimbed dirt tower "The Serpent" Located down and to the west of Alpha Tower. Don't all rush at once!

A small nasty looking 30/40' unclimbed dirt tower ...

The head of "The Serpent". Care must be taken when one attempts to stand on the summit.

The head of "The Serpent". Care must be taken when...


Add Comment Comments on Things Of Beauty (aka Interstate I-70 Towers)
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By Scott M. Mossman
Jan 8, 2008

This is taking climbing on crumbly dirt (I don't think you can realistically call it rock) to a new level! You guys are nuts!!!

By Paul Ross
Jan 11, 2008

Well, it keeps you off the streets...and it sure beats sport climbing....

Eds. An off-subject discussion ensued after this comment and can be found here.

By cameron
Jan 20, 2008

You kids are the freakin' champs! I've been eyeing those horriffic hoodoos for too many years.
Someone finally did it. . . and posted it even!
So tell me, was it worth it punk. . . well, was it?
(Good job, Paul)

Have you been to the top of the rim? If so, is there anything up there? I'm not sure of how to access, but I'll find out next week. There does seem to be some canyons and rock formations up there. . . .

By Paul Ross
Jan 23, 2008

To Cam. There does not seem to be many unclimbed towers left that are worth doing in this I-70 area. However, there are some spectacular knife edge ridges that would have the same pant filler experience as the towers.

By Tevis Blom
From: Boulder
Apr 17, 2008

You people are absolutely MAD! It looks like vertical kitty litter... Those pillars only exist because the capstone blocks rainfall from eroding the softer underlayers; basically some soft sheit!