Off-width Route  5.10c

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Type:  TR, 1 pitch, 90 feet Consensus:  5.10c [details] FA:  unknown Submitted By:  pete cogan on Aug 3, 2006 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (2) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

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Seasonal Raptor Closure MORE INFO >>> The Cathedral Spires area, including Block Tower, Cynical Pinnacle, Snake Buttress, the Dome, Hall of Mirrors, Sunshine Wall, and Poe Buttress, are closed annually starting March 1 for raptor nesting. After careful monitoring of nest sites, Jefferson County Open Space opens certain areas of Cathedral Spires and maintain spot closures for active nests through July 31st. Check back periodically during times of closure for updates. This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund, and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

Description 

Let's say you find yourself at the base of the Cynical Pinnacle and the weather turns dicey. You decide watching the black clouds roll in from 200 feet off the deck is not ideal. Here's a worthwhile alternative.

The Off-width Route hasn't seen much traffic, but it offers a decent route. The first half, which can be protected with the largest cams, is moderate. The difficulty is half way up, when the wall steepens, the crack turns to wider than stacked fists, and the feet disappear -- Vedauwoo in the South Platte. It finishes off with great hand jams.

Very easy to set up a top rope on gear, but it certainly could be led.

Location 

Instead of heading up the ramp that leads to the base of the Center Route, go right along the base of the rock 100 yards until you reach a cliff. You can skirt the cliff on the left -- and then walk down and view the route -- or, if you look down and right, you'll see a hand crack in front of you widening to an off width.

Protection 

If you led this, from hands to a couple of #6 cams. In addition, 2 finger size cams could be used in horizontal cracks that you can't see from the ground.