Watchtower Crag  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  9,680' Lat, Long:  39.123, -106.725 Map Page Views:  499. Good page?    Administrators:  Alvaro Arnal, Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Hayden Fischer on Jun 20, 2010 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

BETA PHOTO: Watchtower Crag from the Weller Trailhead parking ...

Description 

The Watchtower Crag can be found to the southwest of the Weller Slab and to the west of the Weller Campground. Routes are located on the southwest corner of the crag where the pine trees and ferns meet a large aspen forest. The approach requires some bushwacking, making it very secluded and out of the way of the road.

Getting There 

Head down Independence Pass to Weller Campground or the Weller Trailhead parking lot. An unmarked trail heads out of the furthest northwest campsite. Head to where the trail ends, about ten minutes past the boulder field for the Weller Slab in a large clearing above a short slope. The cliffs for the Watchtower Crag are just beginning to appear to the west. Bushwack to the top of these cliffs and follow them west until they open up into a large wall. Rappel down from the pine tree at the top, or head even further west to where the slope lessens and you can scramble down.

The Classics

Featured Route For Watchtower Crag

Hoop Snake 5.11-  CO : Independence Pass : Watchtower Crag

The first move is a reachy step-jump to a solid, horizontal crimp. Match hands in the crack and shimmy them up as the crack runs up and to the right. The quality of handholds gets worse higher on the crack. The crux is the dyno to the top of the first ledge; afterwards, the climb gets significantly easier....[more]   Browse More Classics in CO