This is the rightmost route in the Skull Cave and one of the single worst pitches in North America. If you think I"m exaggerating then go have a crack at it . . .
Climb past the grey cold-shuts through the hollow, overlapping flake/blocks into a corner below a capping roof. Turn the roof then lower off the last bolt -- or downjump -- or something.
Before climbers re-named it, the Skull Cave used to be named Old Maid's Kitchen, which is what the town locals still call it. Apparently an Old Maid of sorts used it as a kitchen to cook for some menfolk. Not much else is known.
If you think of the cave as Old Maid's Kitchen and choose not to climb here, you'll probably have a blast. If, however, you insist on seeing it as the "Skull Cave," then prepare to lock horns with a seeping, subpar climbing venue replete with sharp, barnacle-lipped pockets, oozing clumps of toxic moss and huecos filled with venomous spiders and various bits of nameless filth.
Just think of the Old Maid soloing this route in her cookin' shoes as you fumble desperately for a dirt-covered sloper at the lip of the cave and success will be yours!
The worst route in the country? How about the route right next to it which I am reluctant to admit to having wasted hours of my life falling at the crux. How about the redoubtable Astroglide at the Crystal Cave? Sure it's a pile but let's be reasonable.
Aah, yes . . . Astroglide, the second worst route in the country. OK, maybe I was exaggerating, but I really do have yet to find a route quite this unpleasant anywhere in Colorado.
Yes, this is a sucky line.Dirty with weird clips -usually in-situ, rotten looking quicks.
In spite of its impressive appearance, Skull Cave doesn't offer much for most climbers.The 13's are sick hard, and the 12's are lame and dirty.Pile Driver is just about the only attraction here for me.
Don't worry, the 13s are lame and dirty, too, making this crag consistently bogus. Don't forget the night some guy parked his car right in front of the cave and pumped 11 bullets into his wife in the trunk of his car either. Two friends were bivied down at the Wasteland, and heard the whole thing.
By Ashley Gann From: Colorado Springs, CO Jul 27, 2008
This route is really not that bad, It's somewhat large moves on big jugs. It is not worth just blowing off, there are much worse routes in the canyon. People exaggerate way to much on how bad it is. It's really not that unpleasant at all.
Skull Cave
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