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Outer Gates

Colorado > Estes Park Valley > Big Thompson Ca… > Monastery
Warning Access Issue: Area closure - now lifted. Previously: Storm Mt./Cedar Park road is reopened to all DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: Access issue - Monastery, Cedar Park, Combat Rock, etc. - open since 2023 DetailsDrop down

Description

Home to many many moderate (5.7 - 5.10a) well-bolted sport routes, this is rightly one of the more popular destinations at the Monastery. One finds such highly featured rock the crux is often in hanging out long enough to decide which holds to use. Classics include No Mystery Here (5.7), The Steeple (5.8), and Monastic Groove (5.8).

[Eds. Going NW from the Outer Gates are narrow subcorridors, with routes inside, separating some of these southern-most Outer Gates SE faces of these crags. Some of these subcorridors have separate names. These subcorridors are: unnamed, unnamed, The Balcony, Hallowed Hall, & Inner Sanctum. For the purposes of organization, routes within this subcorridors will be organized in the The Vestibule section.]

Getting There

Just before the Guardian, head downhill, basically skirting around the left side of the main towers of the Monastery. You will pass just below the two bolted routes on the Not So Hairy Pin (5.8+ and 5.11d). Just past these routes take a right turn down the hill and you will begin passing alonside the Outer Gates. You will pass Harley Davidson (5.12c) up high then Simplexity (5.9+) and Going to the Chapel (5.8) at the Balcony. Finally one reaches the high density collection of routes on the Steeple, Vestry and Wine Cellar.

Routes from Left to Right

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 10
Two Buck Chuck
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 8
Dale's Downpulling Digits Decade…
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 70
Pandora's Pebble Pinching Party…
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 40
Table Wine
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 3
Trois Pistoles
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 57
Abbot Arete
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 14
Southern Hospitality
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 150
Monastic Groove
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 52
Fin Du Monde
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R
 12
Crystal Staircase
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 34
Hog Heaven
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 119
The Steeple
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 31
Crucifix
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 69
No Mystery Here
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 93
La Maudite
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 27
Stone Smoked Porter
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 22
Mystery Route
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 8
Cloister Frock
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 37
Going to the Chapel
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 43
Altered Boy
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 65
Simplexity
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 42
Kohlmann's Complex
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 17
Jesus on a Stick
Sport
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c
 19
CCD
Sport
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 3
Moving to Montana
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Two Buck Chuck
 10
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Dale's Downpulling Digits D…
 8
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Pandora's Pebble Pinching P…
 70
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Table Wine
 40
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Trois Pistoles
 3
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Abbot Arete
 57
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Southern Hospitality
 14
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Monastic Groove
 150
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Fin Du Monde
 52
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Crystal Staircase
 12
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b R Sport
Hog Heaven
 34
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
The Steeple
 119
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Crucifix
 31
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
No Mystery Here
 69
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
La Maudite
 93
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Stone Smoked Porter
 27
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Mystery Route
 22
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Cloister Frock
 8
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Going to the Chapel
 37
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Altered Boy
 43
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Simplexity
 65
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Kohlmann's Complex
 42
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Jesus on a Stick
 17
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
CCD
 19
5.2 3 8 II 8 D 2c Sport
Moving to Montana
 3
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Downclimbing thru one of the many little alleys to the Vestibule.
[Hide Photo] Downclimbing thru one of the many little alleys to the Vestibule.
Outer Gates.
[Hide Photo] Outer Gates.
Somewhere in the Outer Gates.
[Hide Photo] Somewhere in the Outer Gates.
A sample of the unique rock at The Outer Gates.
[Hide Photo] A sample of the unique rock at The Outer Gates.
Most of the climbs here look like this...  The climbing is more difficult than it looks until you get used to the rock
[Hide Photo] Most of the climbs here look like this... The climbing is more difficult than it looks until you get used to the rock
A view of the Outer Gates at the Monastery in Big Thompson Canyon.
[Hide Photo] A view of the Outer Gates at the Monastery in Big Thompson Canyon.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

[Hide Comment] It's an awesome area if you like slabs, the rock is awesome, feet are everywhere but the hands suck. Jun 5, 2010
[Hide Comment] Super cool area! The hike is hard on the way in and harder on the way out. Super sunny at the Outer Gates and for most of the hike - I ended up wishing I'd brought more water. It's slabby, but most of the footholds are pebbles or tiny ledges. I was wishing for slightly stiffer shoes (at least in the toe box). Jul 21, 2018
Kurtz
Fort Collins, CO
[Hide Comment] First visit? Most of the routes are farther left, down the hill. The first route you'll probably notice is Kohlmann's Complex (look for the black water streak). This is a good first climb to get used to the rock. Pretty tame for 5.8+. Once you move down the hill, you'll find it easier to orient yourself. Jul 29, 2019