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Der Zerkle

Colorado > Boulder > Flatirons > Central
Warning Access Issue: 2024 Crag Closures & Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: Routes on Der Zerkle are closed from 1 April to 1 September DetailsDrop down

Description

This is a really shady place in the trees below Mallory Cave. It has good sport/TR routes here on hueco-like sandstone.

This is a enjoyable small Flatiron with a decent amount of variety. It is routes from 5.5 to 5.11d, trad & sport, slab to overhanging, 1-3 pitches, sun and shade. It has even become one of the trial rocks for the reintroduction of limited, new fixed hardware (requires an application process and approval by FCC) for the Flatrions. It lies very close to the Mallory Cave Trail. However, it does apparently host a species of bats which close some of its routes each year.

From the 2006 Boulder Mountain Parks Website: For the protection of roosting Fringed Myotis Bats, the following area will be CLOSED to all users from APRIL 1st to SEPTEMBER 1st:

THE EAST FACE OF DER ZERKLE including the following routes: Sunnyside One, East Face Left, East Face Right. All other climbing areas on Der Zerkle and Mallory Cave Trail remains open.

Getting There

Take Broadway to Table Mesa and turn W. on Table Mesa. Follow Table Mesa all the way to NCAR and park at the NCAR lot. Now take the "NCAR Trail" along the nature walk along the rim of the hill. Look for a trail that cuts left and down the hill to some switchbacks. Follow this trail all the way to the water tower and continue left of the tower down to the Mesa Trail. Look for the 3 fingered Flatiron with a diagonalling slash across its East Face. Here, you will come to a junction with a Boulder Mountain Parks info/map board. Take the Mallory Cave Trail up the hill for a nice hike. You will see several signs for climbing access, but stay on this trail. When you come to the junction of the climbing access to Dinosaur Mountain, take a right up the hill, which is still the Mallory cave trail. Keep following the trail until you see a sign for climbing access to "Der Zerkle." You'll see the nice cliffs just up the hill. :)

Routes from Left to Right

5.0 2- 4 I 6 MM 1c
 19
West Face [Der Zerkle]
Trad
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 251
Bar None
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 231
Feeling Lucky
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 23
Der Fuhrer
TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 286
What If You're Not?
Sport, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
 14
Two Clucks From Saigon
Trad, TR
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 247
Wing Ding
Sport, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
 23
Ribspuren
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 246
Absolution (submitted as Hot if…
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 46
Final Address
Trad
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 80
Hot if You're Not aka The Brown…
Sport
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 47
April Fools
Sport
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b
 70
Sunny Side Two
Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 4
Sunny Side One
Trad 3 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 291
Touch Monkey
Sport, TR
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 50
Knot Carrot
Sport, TR
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 46
East Face Left Side
Trad 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 9
East Face Right/Der Zerkle
Trad 3 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R
 2
New Beginnings
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 15
Happy Ending
Trad
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
 1
Southeast Arete
Trad 2 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
West Face [Der Zerkle]
 19
5.0 2- 4 I 6 MM 1c Trad
Bar None
 251
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport
Feeling Lucky
 231
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Der Fuhrer
 23
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c TR
What If You're Not?
 286
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport, TR
Two Clucks From Saigon
 14
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 Trad, TR
Wing Ding
 247
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport, TR
Ribspuren
 23
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R Trad
Absolution (submitted as Ho…
 246
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Final Address
 46
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Hot if You're Not aka The B…
 80
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
April Fools
 47
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
Sunny Side Two
 70
4th 1 2 I 2 M 1b Trad
Sunny Side One
 4
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad 3 pitches
Touch Monkey
 291
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport, TR
Knot Carrot
 50
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport, TR
East Face Left Side
 46
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 3 pitches
East Face Right/Der Zerkle
 9
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
New Beginnings
 2
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R Trad
Happy Ending
 15
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
Southeast Arete
 1
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R Trad 2 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Der Zerkle is in the middle with the three-fingered summit.  The Mallory Cave Trail crosses just about 30 yards in front of the base of Der Zerkle.
[Hide Photo] Der Zerkle is in the middle with the three-fingered summit. The Mallory Cave Trail crosses just about 30 yards in front of the base of Der Zerkle.
Der Zerkle.
[Hide Photo] Der Zerkle.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Bruce Hildenbrand
Silicon Valley/Boulder
[Hide Comment] On 10/27/2004 Will Clopton and I replaced the 1/4" bolt on top of Der Zerkle with a 3/8" 5-piece SS Rawl. We added links for rappel. A second 5-piece Rawl bolt with Fixe Ring was already in place. There are now two bolts on top for the rappel.

This work was supported by the American Safe Climbing Association (www.safeclimbing.org) and the Anchor Replacement Initiative (www.climbing.com/ari). Oct 27, 2004
Matt Toensing
Pagosa Springs
[Hide Comment] I missed out on voicing my opinion by voting, so I will have to share my opinion here. I don't think that a new bolt should be added to Touch Monkey. The first bolt is fine where it is. The lower section is not 5.10 as described on the FCC website. There is gear potential on the lower section if necessary, but a competent 5.11 sport climber is not going (or should not at least) to fall getting to the first bolt.

Just my $0.02, but this would be a useless bolt on an otherwise already perfectly bolted Flatirons route. Let's not turn the Flatirons into Boulder Canyon if we can help it, people. Dec 17, 2011
Ryan Schmitz
Boulder, CO
[Hide Comment] Der Zerkle means The Zerkle. What is a Zerkle? I propose a spelling correction to Der Zerkel which in German means "The dumpling". I'm guessing that was the intent, but someone forgot how to spell. Sep 12, 2018
Andrew Cope
Boulder
[Hide Comment] Any info on the long overhanging boulder between Der Zirkle and The Hand? Looks like a few quality problems in the V3-V8 range? I wanted to know more before lugging the pads up. Mar 30, 2023