The Punchbowl  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  9,200' Lat, Long:  39.4058, -106.6547 Map Page Views:  7,433. Good page?    Administrators:  Alvaro Arnal, Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Nate Adams on Aug 22, 2006 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The main wall of the Punchbowl, of which climbs ex...

Description 

The cave occasionally has a waterfall that fills up the bowl at the base, hence the name.

There are now more than 10 routes at the cave and to the right, from 5.9 to 5.hard.
Left of the cave, in the trees, are some 10/11s, and some harder routes further left (perhaps a dozen or so routes). Not much is known about these lines yet, except that Luke Laeser and Co. put in a handful, and the rock looks really good, for the most part.

There are a handful of quality lines here. Right of the Punchbowl are a number of routes. Corporate Greed is a short, fun 5.9, ****. I've heard tell Spiked Punch (12c, ****) is a classic, I think Drive by Shooting (11d/12a, ****) is definitely a worthy route. Turds in the Punchbowl (12a, **) is worth getting on for the stiff crux up high. Several (relatively) new routes can be found by following the trail around the corner to the right of Turds.

Smoke on the Water (11c, ****) starts on the left side of the cave and is super fun, with a finish that arcs right over the top of the cave.

There are a two bolted lines on the right arch of the cave that look really hard. According to the 2008 Guidebook from Wolverine Publishing, these are 13c & 13d.

Getting There 

At the end of the east access road, there is a trail that takes you directly to the Punchbowl, with a quick approach. This is the obvious cave.

Routes 

L=>R:

1. Smoke on the Water, 11, 1p, 40', bolts.
2. Super Barnacle, 12-, 1p, 60', bolts.
3. Unknown (Right Arch of Cave), 13+? PG-13?, 1p, 90', bolts.
4. Unknown, 13+?, 1p, bolts
5. Momentary Lack of Resin?, 12, 1p, 70', bolts.
6. Spiked Punch, 12, 1p.
7. Lugie Head, 12, 1p, 60', bolts.
8. Corporate Greed, 9-, 1p, 35', bolts.
9. Snipe Hunter, 12c?, 1p, bolts.
10. Drive by Shooting, 11+, 1p, bolts.
11. Turds in the Punchbowl, 12-, 1p, 70', bolts.

More routes to the right.

Editorial Note: There appears to be only 2 "vertical" routes between the cave & "Corporate Greed", though this lists 3. Not sure what the deal is with that.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Punchbowl

Smoke on the Water 5.11c  CO : Eagle/Vail/Leadville : ... : The Punchbowl

Currently the first route on the left of the overhang, this amazing 11c starts from a sketchy belay, going to a large block that may fall off in 50 years. There is a glued hold just above the first bolt. The 3rd bolt starts the move to the right. A jug seems to magically appear whenever the holds run out. You may find yourself pumped out and epic-ing by the time you get to the somewhat of a downclimb crux near the last two bolts. Gain a good side pull, then jug to the last two convenient open ga...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of The Punchbowl Slideshow

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Chris Deulen running it out between bolts 8 and 9 ...