Pup Tent of Solitude  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  6,620. Good page?    Administrators:  Alvaro Arnal, Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Michael Schneiter on Nov 3, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed 73° | 48° 73° | 41° 64° | 36° 68° | 34° 63° | 30°

Main Elk Creek wins this one, bummer for the homeo...

Description 

The Pup Tent is the little sibling, maybe red-headed step child, of the Fortress of Solitude. While diminutive in stature to the storied and illustrious Fortress of Solitude, the Pup Tent offers a high concentration of well-protected routes with a relatively short approach and a long climbing season. Facing south, this crag can be excellent on winter days as well as many days throughout the spring, summer and fall. The rock here tends to vary between quartzite, limestone, and sandstone.

Getting There 

Situated beneath the Fortress of Solitude, following the same approach before veering off to this little crag.

From New Castle, travel west on County Road 245, which can be found at the west end of main street by following the sign for "National Forest Service Access." Go past the turnoff to East Elk to the Main Elk Road turnoff, County Road 243, which is also the National Forest Service Access for the Clinetop Road. Go about 6 miles on County Road 243. The pavement ends at a sharp right hand turn and the road crosses Main Elk Creek on a bridge. Shortly thereafter is a large pullout on the left with a large brown sign for the Clinetop bighorn sheep and a large informational bulletin board. This is the trailhead for the Hadley Gulch Trail.

Follow the Hadley Gulch Trail, making sure to stay right at the fork for trail #1849A. The Pup Tent will come into obvious view from across a gulch. Continue up the trail until you come to the far right of the crag and a climber's trail is obvious on your left, accessing the climbs.

Expect about 20 minutes hiking time.

You can also access the Main Elk climbs by continuing left past the Pup Tent.

The Classics

Featured Route For Pup Tent of Solitude

Girls With Guns 5.10+  CO : Glenwood Springs : Pup Tent of Solitude

This is probably the best 10 at the Pup Tent, long and sustained on excellent stone. It is a must do route when visiting here.Boulder up through a quartzite band to the first bolt in gray rock, fun moves up and left lead to rest stances. Choose your line heading up to a large block and ledge below the spectacular headwall finish.Hoist yourself onto the block and climb incuts to a chickenhead at the anchors, outstanding.The technical crux is midway and the endurance crux is on the headwall....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of Pup Tent of Solitude Slideshow

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Aeon on Rex Luthor, one of the original Pup Tent r...	Morgan on one of the many new climbs at The Pup Te...	Somewhere near the Pup Tent.
12a.	The view down-canyon from the Pup Tent. Not too sh...	The top of Girls With Guns (5.10d).