Organ Pipes 5.6
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| Type: | Trad, 2 pitches, 250 feet, Grade II |
| Consensus: | 5.7 [details] |
| FA: | John Chapman & Steve Hickman, 1963 (from Rossiter)? |
| Submitted By: | Charles Vernon on Jan 1, 2001 |
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Roger Linfield on the third pitch, 5.8+ variation.
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Season raptor closures MORE INFO >>>
The following areas are closed from March 1-July 31 or until further notice: Twin Owls, Rock One, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sheep Mountain, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Lightning Rock and Checkerboard Rock are currently closed. The closures include the named rock formations and the areas extending 100 yards surrounding the base of the formation. This includes all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes and climber's access trails to the formation. Alligator Rock is also closed. www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/area_closures.htm
This information is a public crowdsourcing effort between the Access Fund,
and Mountain Project. You should confirm closures, restrictions, and/or related dates.
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Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment
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Description A very strange moderate route (with an excellent 5.8+ crack variation) on the Lower Twin Owls, which is the large buttress directly below Twin Owls, and essentially connected to them. The route can be identified from the parking lot by some steep looking grooves, left of a huge corner, which reach up to the center of the Twin Owls. Take the marked approach trail which leaves the Gem Lake trail after about 50 feet. When it dies, bushwack up the hill somewhat rightward to get in an alcove at the base of the (now less-steep looking) grooves, with the large wall of the corner looming to the right. P1 - Pick a groove fairly close to the corner, and use clever route finding to attain a perch in the corner about 100 feet up (insecure, Lumpy-style 5.6). P2 - More of the same, to a ledge just below the top. Belay here, or climb the corner (5.6), a crack just left (5.7), or a beautiful hand crack left of that (5.8, recommended). Descend by scrambling east along the base of Twin Owls, to pick up the eastern approach trail, or continue up a route above. If taking the easiest variation, the route is exactly 200 feet long.
Protection Standard rack to a #3 Camalot.
The 5.6 finish on the last pitch of Organ Pipes.
| First pitch of the "very strange moderate grooves"...
| BETA PHOTO: Left : 5.8, Right : 5.7 crack.
| Shannon killing the 5.8 crack up top.
| BETA PHOTO: Me leading p1 of Organ Pipes.
| Tanya Chupa tops out on Organ Pipes and enjoying t...
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By Chris Fisher Jul 23, 2001
| The 5.8 hand crack variation on the 3rd picth was awesome. It was a great finish to a fun climb. |
By Joe Keyser From: Scottsdale, AZ Apr 11, 2002
| [Definitely] do the 5.8 variation on pitch 3, [it's] very well protected, and on great rock! The first pitch seemed longer than it looked, and there is a few ways you could go, but everything seemed positive... |
By Jim McGuire Sep 25, 2003
| My first 5.6 lead on Lumpy Ridge, and at the top I, had a smile a mile wide. Finishing in the 5.6 corner on the last pitch is still mighty fine, steep climbing and a worthwhile finish. The 5.8 finish, as I've discovered on subsequent trips, offers terrific crack climbing as well, but at a considerably stiffer standard than anything below it. |
By Gary Schmidt From: Boulder, CO Aug 7, 2004
| A unique route that is probably a little spicier than it looks from the base. Be prepared for a bit of runout at the bottom and mischeivous cracks that lure you into them only to discover it was better on the face in the first place. Led the 5.7 finish and it was great. Good position and solid jams. By the way it is easy to combine the first two pitches into one with a 60 meter rope. All parties today were using that option. |
By Alex A Aug 11, 2007
| Not a good lead for someone leading at the 5.6 level. The 5.8 finish is great. |
By Merlin From: Grand Junction Sep 23, 2007
| Funky clmbing for a 5.6, not a good intro lead at the level. I seconded the 5.8 finish and stemmed up the whole thing. |
By Dr. Evil From: Boulder, CO Sep 15, 2008
| A great climb. The first part is definitely insecure and weird. With a 60 m rope you can do most of this in one long pitch, ending at a comfortable ledge just below the 3 exit cracks. We did the 8 finish and it was stellar. |
By Cale Farnham From: loveland,CO Sep 29, 2008
| Kind of a tricky approach depending what side you come up from! Stellar climb kinda tricky in spots, but all the pro was great! I belayed of the tiny ledge almost a full 60m up! There's only about 15+ feet from there but figured it was a good place to take in the view! 2 thumbs up! |
By Scott Matz From: Loveland, CO Jul 6, 2009
| I climbed outside of the dihedral and found it to be challenging, but just stoked to see the Owls open this time of year. These easy climbs are going to see a lot of traffic this year due to so much rain, but enjoy. |
By Joe Brannan From: Erie, CO Oct 4, 2009
| After completing the climb in two pitches with the 5.8, we top-roped the upper options. I felt the left side crack was tougher than anything on Melvin's Wheel, unless you stem which made it much easier (5.8). Using the crack exclusively felt like 5.9. The 5.7 option had one move at that grade and the 5.6 was just fun. |
By goatboywonder Nov 5, 2009
| A quick(er) way back to the base is to rap off the top of Conads. If you are not familiar with where the top of Conads is, then it may be tough to find. Essentially you want to get on the west side of the little ridge you topped out on (cross over to the climbers left). You will see a steep ramp with a gaping, flaring crack running away from you (with your back is to the owls). This crack should remind you of the first pitch of Organ Pipes, but less steep. Head down that crack and you will find a nest of slings after about 50 feet. You will likely want a belay in getting to the anchors, though. Easy scrambling but there is a lot of air under you. Also, the rap from Conads is exactly 30 meters, so do not try it with a 50m rope and use some knots. |
By 303scott Aug 30, 2010
| You can run this in one pitch up the .8 finish with a 70. |
By Canon Aug 22, 2012 rating: 5.6
| Combine P1 and P2 with a 60. Only marginally protectable in the first 40 feet of groveling. The climbing gets better after the optional P1 belay. Definitely do the .8 exit. This stays in the shade all morning. |
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