Fin City Rock Climbing
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Elevation: | 8,600 ft |
GPS: |
40.4051, -105.50646 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 7,768 total · 36/month |
Shared By: | Leo Paik on May 13, 2006 |
Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Per Brent Frazier: the raptor closures have been lifted in the Lumpy Ridge and Loch Vale Areas ( nps.gov/romo/raptor-closure…)
Each year, Rocky Mountain National Park initiates temporary closures in certain areas of the park to ensure that birds of prey will be undisturbed during their breeding and nesting seasons. These closures begin on February 15 and continue through July 31, if appropriate. Monitoring by park staff and volunteers have determined that all remaining closures can be lifted on July 28, 2023.
Per Matt Coghill: the Golden eagle nesting activity has extended Lumpy closures through Aug. 15, 2022 on Sundance, Thunder Buttress, and Needle Summit!
Per A.Eaton: the raptor closures have been lifted as of 6/4/2022 at Lumpy for the following formations:
Twin Owls
Rock One
Batman Rock
Batman Pinnacle
Checkerboard
Lightning Rock
Per the Denver Post: as of Feb. 15, 2022, Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sundance, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Bookmark Pinnacle, The Left Book, Bookmark, Twin Owls, Rock One, and the Needle are closed for raptor nesting. These closures will continue through July 31, 2022 if needed.
All areas [were] OPEN to climbing for the 2021 post July season.
Closures ending July 31:
Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Lightning Rock, Checkerboard Rock - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Sundance - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
The Book Area: Left Book, The Bookmark, Bookmark Pinnacle, and the entire Book formation (including Renaissance Wall, Isis Buttress, Pages Wall Area, and J-Crack Slab Area)- nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Thunder Buttress and The Parish - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Twin Owls and Rock One - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Cathedral Wall - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
When closed, the closures include the named rock formations and the areas surrounding the base of the formation. This includes all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes, and climber's access trails to the formation.
Areas not listed are presumed to be open. These closures will be lifted or extended as conditions dictate.
Each year, Rocky Mountain National Park initiates temporary closures in certain areas of the park to ensure that birds of prey will be undisturbed during their breeding and nesting seasons. These closures begin on February 15 and continue through July 31, if appropriate. Monitoring by park staff and volunteers have determined that all remaining closures can be lifted on July 28, 2023.
Per Matt Coghill: the Golden eagle nesting activity has extended Lumpy closures through Aug. 15, 2022 on Sundance, Thunder Buttress, and Needle Summit!
Per A.Eaton: the raptor closures have been lifted as of 6/4/2022 at Lumpy for the following formations:
Twin Owls
Rock One
Batman Rock
Batman Pinnacle
Checkerboard
Lightning Rock
Per the Denver Post: as of Feb. 15, 2022, Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Sundance, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Bookmark Pinnacle, The Left Book, Bookmark, Twin Owls, Rock One, and the Needle are closed for raptor nesting. These closures will continue through July 31, 2022 if needed.
All areas [were] OPEN to climbing for the 2021 post July season.
Closures ending July 31:
Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Lightning Rock, Checkerboard Rock - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Sundance - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
The Book Area: Left Book, The Bookmark, Bookmark Pinnacle, and the entire Book formation (including Renaissance Wall, Isis Buttress, Pages Wall Area, and J-Crack Slab Area)- nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Thunder Buttress and The Parish - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Twin Owls and Rock One - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
Cathedral Wall - nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/…
When closed, the closures include the named rock formations and the areas surrounding the base of the formation. This includes all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes, and climber's access trails to the formation.
Areas not listed are presumed to be open. These closures will be lifted or extended as conditions dictate.
Description
This is a small, perhaps tiny, crag located along the eastern part of Lumpy Ridge. It is perhaps 200 yards just North of Crescent Wall near Gem Lake. There are at least 6 routes (in the low to moderate difficulty range) with potential for a few more at this crag, but none is taller than about 50 feet. Still, it may be worth the effort if you are in the right frame of mind. Tape or excellent technique is useful.
To descend the crag, you can find a couple downclimbs going East. One goes down the backside of Chimney Sweeper with a few 5th class moves. Another goes down the back of Dudh Chai where you can belay down your partner with looping a rope around a horn above.
So, Doug or Richard, did any of you climb that gnarly offwidth listed as 3 in the photo?
Note, the GPS location is a guess, since the GPS imaging is low resolution in this area at this time.
To descend the crag, you can find a couple downclimbs going East. One goes down the backside of Chimney Sweeper with a few 5th class moves. Another goes down the back of Dudh Chai where you can belay down your partner with looping a rope around a horn above.
So, Doug or Richard, did any of you climb that gnarly offwidth listed as 3 in the photo?
Note, the GPS location is a guess, since the GPS imaging is low resolution in this area at this time.
Getting There
Hike from the new Trailhead towards Gem Lake. When you see Crescent Wall about 1 1/4 miles in, you may notice a small outcropping of fins located just left (North). This is it.
There are 2 approaches: 1) hike along a faint trail where the draw between the Gem Lake Trail & Crescent Wall becomes quite close to the level of the trail. It is just past the Common Courtesy Crag. Go up slabs and find a passable gully up towards the crag. 2) You can reach this crag by continuing further where there are a set of 4-6 tighter switchbacks about 1/4 mi further up the trail. Here you will see the N face of Out West Crag. Find a faint path towards the East end of Out West Crag, then scamper about 100 yards further South.
There are 2 approaches: 1) hike along a faint trail where the draw between the Gem Lake Trail & Crescent Wall becomes quite close to the level of the trail. It is just past the Common Courtesy Crag. Go up slabs and find a passable gully up towards the crag. 2) You can reach this crag by continuing further where there are a set of 4-6 tighter switchbacks about 1/4 mi further up the trail. Here you will see the N face of Out West Crag. Find a faint path towards the East end of Out West Crag, then scamper about 100 yards further South.
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