The Taj Mahal

Description 

For its striking mushroom top, appealing contours, and high quality routes, the Taj Mahal is arguably the best crag in the JC drainage. Routes run pretty much around the crag with some excellent multi-pitch lines running to the top from both the North and South side. There are a few fully bolted slab/face routes that can be accessed from the ground, however, most routes will be either classic trad cracks or mix it up with trad and bolt pitches. Off the ground on the South side is the near classic 5.11 clip-up with no presently published name (far left). To the right of this is a terrific crack and corner system, also with no published name, but striking for the line it follows. The North side is similarly equipped with a few slab/face lines off the deck and some mixed multi-pitch lines that run to the top. Classic multi-pitch routes that gain the summit are Air to the Thrown on the South and Pili Pili on the North. There is some useful data in the Hubble guide, but this can be sketchy. Overall, The Taj Mahal offers superb climbing on largely excellent stone, requires a full rack of camming toys and a dozen draws. Double ropes are recommended since many of the belay stances don't have double bolt anchors. The best descent from the top is to rap West in three stages.

Getting There 

The Taj Mahal is about a mile East of Jackson Creek Dome and on the left (West) side of the road. There is an intermittant trail on the North drainage.

Featured Route For The Taj Mahal

Crumbling Reality 5.12d  CO : South Platte : The Taj Mahal

Looking down on the valley, this crack stares at the road below. You can look up and see it from the road, from there, it appears to be a fist crack splitter. Once up to it, you see that it's about 45 degrees overhanging, 45 degrees right leaning, flared, sharp, and offwidth.It starts as hands, goes to a pod, goes through some fists, then gets too wide to use a fist right at the lip. The rock is the crumbly south platte variety but the crack is g...[more]