Setting up for the longer reach above the roof. Th...
Description
Mine Hole Crag sits to the right of an old abandoned mine above and slightly west of Animal World. One might want to check the mine for any animal life before sitting down next to it to belay. 24 routes & growing.
FWIW, the obvious line over the small roof when you first reach the crag is Ruff Roof.
Beware of rockfall in this area.
Getting There
Mine Hole Crag is located about 8.5 miles up Boulder Canyon. Park at the same pullout used for the Boulderado or Animal World, on the left after the Narrows where the metal barriers end. Follow the trail on the left side of the Boulderado up the hill. The trail branches off to the right, along the top of the Boulderado to the Animal World area. DO NOT take this right turn. Instead, continue up the trail skirting the rock band. The trail grows a little fainter but it's still easy to follow. Continue working up a loose gully and about 100 feet west you will eventually come upon the mine entrance and crag.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Mine Hole Crag:
This is a so-so route that starts good and interesting, with 5 meters of very nice jamming. Too bad it doesn't go on like that the whole way....Climb up the right-leaning handcrack (2"-3.5") on solid jams for 5 meters through a decent bulge, just right of the Bull Fight Wall. After 8 or 9 meters, sling a tree with a 4" trunk and climb up and out on some cracks with smaller gear. Finish on a 2 bolt anchor with chains, 50' from the ground....[more]Browse More Classics in CO
There are definitely other routes in that area - to the right of Ruff Roof (easily identified) there are at least five more lines, although the leftmost of that bunch appears to be unfinished.
If anyone can submit the names of these routes, I have photos and descriptions of them. Not sure about FA info, though. I'd put them at 10a/b, 11a/b, 12?(done directly), 9, not including the unfinished line.
There are definitely more routes in the area now! There are four new mixed routes uphill and to the left of the actual mine holes. There are two routes just above and to the left of the mine holes. The obviously easy one on the left is mixed, There are three new routes on the crag that the Ruff Roof occupies. All of these routes are mixed except one and they are all still not adequately cleaned. Have at it though, bring your CCD SKILLS (COMPULSIVE CLEANING DISORDER) and have fun in the morning shade. Yee Ha!!!! Cheers, Pat Thompson
Left and above Mine Hole 5.4 mixed and 5.9 4 bolts. Submitted By: pat thompson on Aug 15, 2010
5.9 mix left side of roof obvious two bolts close together in roof. Left and uphill from actual mine holes. Submitted By: pat thompson on Aug 15, 2010
More mine hole. Submitted By: pat thompson on Aug 15, 2010
This is actually a picture of Cow Patty Crack. Mr. D'Antonio got it mixed up with Salisbury Steak Crack in his quality new guidebook. Salisbury is the obvious boulder problem handcrack through the bulge on the main face(facing westerly) and Cow Patty is around the corner to the right and up hill. Too bad they are both are not longer or they wold both be much more fun climbs!!! Submitted By: pat thompson on Aug 15, 2010
New routes right of Sofa. 1- Mixed 5.8 if you go to anchor for Ruff Roof or mixed 5.9+ if you go up crack above last bolt to chain anchor. 2= 5.9 Climbs bolted blunt prow right next to Knappy Crack (5.6) and left of tree on ledge to anchor for Ruff Roof. 3=Project right next to tree. Chris Archer got on it and thought it was 12a/b. Pull roof left of Ruff Roof step right and climb thin seam to ledge. Crosses Ruff Roof and up face to same anchor as Ruff?? 4= Project for me. Climb slab to flake right of Ruff Roof, pull roof and climb to chain anchor above. Not sure of grade. Still needs cleaning. 5= 10 feet right of this route. Nice 5.10 bolted route right next to tree stump. Climb fun techy terrain to bulgy crack and up to ledge and easier terrain to chain anchor. There are other routes in the area. They all are still a little dirty and in need of TLC. I will finish cleaning routes and update bolt and gear information as soon as I am able.Which will be soon as The Mine Hole works pretty good as a summer crag. Cheers, Pat
Definitely confusing at Mine Hole as of early August (2012) --- lots of new routes not in the relatively new guidebook (2009). Anyone know what the short sport route is just above the mine hole? It is NOT the 5.8 route in the book (listed as a gear route). Maybe 9-?
I have never felt as unsafe in Boulder Canyon from rockfall as I did in May 2012. My partners, my dog & I were luckily climbing in the area of "Little Stevie's Favorite Heifer" when two big rocks came flying off the top of the crag about 50 feet left. We yelled up to warn whoever may have been above us of our presence but got no response. I quickly ran left to grab some of gear over by "Ruff Roof" when I witnessed a huge amount of big rock come raining down over the mine hole (left of the first rockfall) and bounce down the hill. Luckily, nobody was in its path, and no rocks made it to the road. I have climbed here on several times since 1998 when I established "Sofa Kingdom". I scrambled to the top of the crag to bolt that line, and it was fairly solid rock. I have never seen rockfall or felt it was a big concern until now. I don't believe it was natural rockfall, and somebody set it off. After moving everyone under a small overhang, I scrambled to the top to find the culprit but found no one. Lucky for them!
It would be difficult and dangerous to reach the anchors from above to set up a top-rope. Generally these route are led. There were hikers and a few lost climbers looking for Animal World that Sunday. I suggest being very aware of the danger you could be in on a busy day, climbing on the left side of this crag by "Sofa Kingdom to "What's Mine Is Yours".
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