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The Lion's Den

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

Haven't found your fill of classic sport lines wandering the main corridors and spires of the Monastery? A few more gems are hiding out in the Lion's Den. Here you might find a little more solitude, more underbrush and scree beneath the routes and even better views. The lines tend to be short and spread about the maze that is the LD. Routes in the LD proper as well as the adjecent Nursery will be described here.

Getting There

The LD lies uphill - northwest of the Guardian. The approach path(s) are quite faint. After reaching the Guardian, the first rock reached via the Monastery trail, head directly uphill passing the Catacomb on the left. Keeping close to the rock formations on the left, the Nursery will shortly come into view. Two superb bolted 5.6 are located here accessible to toproping. Climb further uphill past the last major rock formations (few or no routes currently) and drop down the hillside to the SW. You will reach a small crag with 2 sport routes (7 and 11a) and a 11a wide crack. Just downhill from this is Bearhug(11a), a sport line with a very nice position on a gently overhanging prow. Down a loose scree filled gully you will finally reach the sport lines on Wedding (a 7 and 9 sharing an anchor) and Barnacle Rocks (a 9+) Alternatively one can access these two rocks by dropping down from the main approach into the Catacomb past the routes the Gravestone and Mausoleum, and scramble right across and below several rock ribs.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 8
Arete
Trad, Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 1
Unknown 12
Sport
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c
 2
Unknown 8
Sport
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 3
Unknown 7
Sport
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 2
Unknown 6
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
Unknown 5
Sport
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 2
Unknown 4
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 2
Unknown 3
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 4
Unknown 2
Sport
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
Unknown 14
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 2
Unknown 11
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 40
Bear Hug
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 4
Unknown 10
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 8
Unknown 1
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 4
Offwidth
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 2
Lion's Mane
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 13
Katie's Corner
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 15
Hole in the Wall
Sport, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 17
Higher Learning
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 41
Groom
Sport, TR
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 40
Bride
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 3
Unknown 9
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Arete
 8
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, Sport
Unknown 12
 1
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Unknown 8
 2
5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c Sport
Unknown 7
 3
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Unknown 6
 2
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport
Unknown 5
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Unknown 4
 2
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Unknown 3
 2
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Unknown 2
 4
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Unknown 14
 1
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Unknown 11
 2
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Bear Hug
 40
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Unknown 10
 4
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Unknown 1
 8
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Offwidth
 4
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Lion's Mane
 2
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Katie's Corner
 13
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
Hole in the Wall
 15
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport, TR
Higher Learning
 17
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
Groom
 41
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport, TR
Bride
 40
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Unknown 9
 3
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

A topo tracking to Lion's Den. Follow main trail til the fork, then go right at each fork till trail leads to farthest area from Outer Gates which is Lion's Den. It is hard to find, and the trail is less visible. This tracking is specifically to Bear Hug.
[Hide Photo] A topo tracking to Lion's Den. Follow main trail til the fork, then go right at each fork till trail leads to farthest area from Outer Gates which is Lion's Den. It is hard to find, and the trail i…
Wedding Rock.
[Hide Photo] Wedding Rock.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Bruce Hildenbrand
Silicon Valley/Boulder
[Hide Comment] There are a number of new routes in this area that have Fixe hangers painted dark brown and use twisted 3/8" quicklinks for rappel anchors. Hopefully, the FA team will add the requisite information to the Mountain Project database. Jun 28, 2015
[Hide Comment] Hi Bruce, my friend Tom Kohlmann is likely the activist you seek. The camo brown bolts and twist rap anchors are his trademark. He does not publish his routes but has supplied them to local guidebook author, Bernard Gillett. In the interim, I can attest that his products tend to be safe, moderate, and enjoyable, while many want for only the natural cleaning of repeat ascents to achieve classic status. Oct 4, 2015