Kingfisher is a lone, quiet route downstream and right of the Nappy Dugout, just across the gully from the dirt cone where PMS and Ivory Tower ascend. It climbs directly up the center of a cool, rectangular face capped by a small roof and a Rifle-special dark brown headwall.
The first clip is hard, so you may want to stick clip it. Crimp your way up the ever-steepening face to a wild series of karate chop moves through the bulge.
Perhaps the least-traveled good route of its grade at Rifle.
A beautiful climb offering some peace from the scene at Rifle. Nice technical, balancey climbing for the first 2/3rds on sharpish crimps, followed by really cool bulge moves. One of my favorites in the park, a must do for the grade. In the fall, this is one of the prettiest climbs due to lots of golden colored aspen trees around it.
By Zed From: Gotham City Jul 8, 2005 rating: 5.12d
High quality route. If Kingfisher were located in most other climbing areas, especially Boulder Canyon, it would be an instant classic.
Someone told me a hold broke on this route and it is now harder. This was the first time I'd been on it so I don't know for sure, but it certainly felt tough.
I agree something must have broken. There is a large chalky block on the ground. Seems hard for the grade, and not that fun. You can see a large undercling jug in the bulge in the picture above that is no longer there.
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