Rock Of Ages Rock Climbing
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Elevation: | 8,751 ft | 2,667 m |
GPS: |
40.35209, -105.65432 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
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Page Views: | 52,345 total · 191/month | |
Shared By: | Tony B on Aug 12, 2002 | |
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
Rock Of Ages is a fine granite wall in Rocky Mountain National Park. Unlike the High peaks, this wall has a short approach and is a good cragging wall. The climbs vary between 1-3 pitches in length and are generally from 100 to 200 feet long. If you find yourself in the Estes Park area and it is too late for a long and committing alpine route, consider this wall as an option. Be warned in advance that most of the climbs here are 5.10+ or harder.
The finer grains and lack of inclusions mean that this rock is very high friction in general, and not too hard on the hands. The granite of this wall ranges from scaly in some spots to bullet-hard and perfect in others. For the most part, the rock is clean, but on the lower right the rock is very scaly and difficult to smear or edge upon.
The face predominantly faces south, although the dihedrals on the East and West ends get shade at one time or another for most of the day. You may be able to climb in the shade for a part of the day, but the must-do classic there, Days Of Heaven (10d), sits in the sun all day. Some other notable climbs include Nameless Demons (10a), Center Dihedral (10d), Celestial Gate (11-) and a few solid 5.12s, such as Rope Gun With Silencer (5.12), that are too hard for me to comment on in much more detail than to say "good top-ropes." The original trad lines were done in the early 1980s, with some additional development occuring only recently, nearly 20 years later.
L->R:
Upper cliff:
A. Greensleeves, 12, 1p, bolts & gear.
B. The Wasp, 13-, 1p, 95', gear.
C. Telekinesis, 13, 1p, 100', bolts.
D. Unknown, 100', bolts & gear.
Lower cliff:
A. Baptismal Font, 11, 1p, gear.
B? Left Out, 11+, 1p, TR.
C? Multiple Blues, 10+ R, 1p, 50', gear.
D? Finger crack, 11, 1p?
E? Tipendicular?
F. Desolation Angels, 11+ R, 2p, 150', gear.
G. Heavenly Daze, 12, 1p, 100', bolts & gear.
H. Nameless Demons, 10, 2p, 130', gear.
I. Celestial Gate, 12-, 3p, 200', gear & bolts.
J. Rope Gun with Silencer, 12+, 3p, bolt, pins, gear.
K1. Days of Heaven, 10+ PG-13, 3p, 200', gear.
K2. Locks of Rages, 12+, 1p var, gear.
K3. Hats Off, 12, 1p var, gear.
L. Center Dihedral, 10+, 2p, 200', gear.
M. Original Sin, 10, 1p, 70', gear.
N. Rope Rider, 12-, 1p, 80', pins & gear.
Further east:
A. Every Pitch Tells A Story, 10+ R, 3p.
B. Got To Get Out Of This Place, 10+.
Way further east.
C. Red Rover, 11-, 2p, gear.
Crack Wall
D1. Orange Crush, 8+, 4p, gear.
D2. Variation, 10-, gear.
The finer grains and lack of inclusions mean that this rock is very high friction in general, and not too hard on the hands. The granite of this wall ranges from scaly in some spots to bullet-hard and perfect in others. For the most part, the rock is clean, but on the lower right the rock is very scaly and difficult to smear or edge upon.
The face predominantly faces south, although the dihedrals on the East and West ends get shade at one time or another for most of the day. You may be able to climb in the shade for a part of the day, but the must-do classic there, Days Of Heaven (10d), sits in the sun all day. Some other notable climbs include Nameless Demons (10a), Center Dihedral (10d), Celestial Gate (11-) and a few solid 5.12s, such as Rope Gun With Silencer (5.12), that are too hard for me to comment on in much more detail than to say "good top-ropes." The original trad lines were done in the early 1980s, with some additional development occuring only recently, nearly 20 years later.
L->R:
Upper cliff:
A. Greensleeves, 12, 1p, bolts & gear.
B. The Wasp, 13-, 1p, 95', gear.
C. Telekinesis, 13, 1p, 100', bolts.
D. Unknown, 100', bolts & gear.
Lower cliff:
A. Baptismal Font, 11, 1p, gear.
B? Left Out, 11+, 1p, TR.
C? Multiple Blues, 10+ R, 1p, 50', gear.
D? Finger crack, 11, 1p?
E? Tipendicular?
F. Desolation Angels, 11+ R, 2p, 150', gear.
G. Heavenly Daze, 12, 1p, 100', bolts & gear.
H. Nameless Demons, 10, 2p, 130', gear.
I. Celestial Gate, 12-, 3p, 200', gear & bolts.
J. Rope Gun with Silencer, 12+, 3p, bolt, pins, gear.
K1. Days of Heaven, 10+ PG-13, 3p, 200', gear.
K2. Locks of Rages, 12+, 1p var, gear.
K3. Hats Off, 12, 1p var, gear.
L. Center Dihedral, 10+, 2p, 200', gear.
M. Original Sin, 10, 1p, 70', gear.
N. Rope Rider, 12-, 1p, 80', pins & gear.
Further east:
A. Every Pitch Tells A Story, 10+ R, 3p.
B. Got To Get Out Of This Place, 10+.
Way further east.
C. Red Rover, 11-, 2p, gear.
Crack Wall
D1. Orange Crush, 8+, 4p, gear.
D2. Variation, 10-, gear.
Getting There
Drive in to the Fern Lake Trailhead, to the very end. Park here and hike past scads of fishermen... (Are there really any fish left here?) ... for a little over a mile until you come to some huge boulders through which the trail is pinched. Just after passing these boulders, you can look up and to the right (North) and see a few solid walls of rock to the North/Northwest. Scamble up a talus field to approach the lowest of these, which is the lower section of Rock Of Ages. This hike will require about 1 hour.
Classic Climbing Routes at Rock Of Ages
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
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