Chiefshead Northeast Face Rock Climbing
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Elevation: | 13,579 ft | 4,139 m |
GPS: |
40.2494, -105.641 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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Page Views: | 20,874 total · 70/month | |
Shared By: | Steve Levin on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates | |
Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Seasonal closures Feb. 15-July 31. Per the Denver Post:, the Cathedral Wall and all areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off-trail travel! Per this RMNP website, "Initial closures now occur in Feb. 15 and April, when raptors return to the region and scout for nesting sites. Areas containing general habitat preferred by raptors are closed during this time. Once raptors have selected nesting spots, the initial closures are lifted or adjusted. The specific areas which raptors choose for nesting sites are closed."
For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.
General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.
For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.
General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.
Description
The NE face of Chiefshead is the massive wall above Green Lake in Upper Glacier Gorge (to the left when facing Spearhead). It should not to be confused with the more popular Northwest Face of Chiefshead which lies above Frozen Lake in the cirque to the right of Spearhead (on the Stoneman Pass side). Ignored for years- I suspect because from a distance it looks a bit broken and not that big, and is a hump to get to- the number of routes on this impressive wall tripled in the 90s due to the efforts of Greg Davis and Eric Winkelman. There are now 8 recorded routes on the wall, ranging in difficulty from 5.8 to mid-5.11, with at least 2 more independent undone lines waiting for a bold leader. The routes can be characterized by excellent face climbing (runout at times), somewhat wandering and vague lines which require excellent routefinding skills, and a sense of commitment which increases as the climber becomes aware of how big this wall really is. The 90s routes have bolts where necessary, but are not clip-ups, and a full rack of gear, including RPs and TCUs, is required. The wall may seep in spots, and facing NNE receives limited sun. The best descent is to scramble up and left to the summit ridge, then hike due east (Lion Lakes and Wild Basin to your right) to the notch between Chiefshead and Pagoda, then descend (with some scrambling and snow) the East Couloir back to the base. Plan on at least 45 minutes. The shorter, alternative descent is to downclimb the snow gully which forms the right edge of the wall and leads to exposed, loose, 4th and easy 5th class ledges. I did this once and do not recommend that you follow in my foolish footsteps. Rappelling the routes is not a good option since the wall is so big, and there are very few fixed anchor stations. Still, 2 ropes are a good idea if you need to bail, but plan on leaving your own gear for anchors. The nature of this wall makes it feel somewhat committing. Chances are you will have the place to yourself. This is what RMNP climbing probably felt like in the 60s.
Getting There
Approach as for Spearhead, but stay low and left, near the Green Lake drainage instead of humping up the snow and talus to the base of Spearhead. Plan on roughly 30-45 minutes further from Spearhead, making the entire approach 3-4 hours. A bivy at Spearhead may play to your advantage (and you can tick a route there and on the NW Face), although this wall is routinely climbed car-to-car. There is a nice staging area on a huge flat boulder ("The USS Winkelman") below the wall.
Classic Climbing Routes at Chiefshead Northeast Face
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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