PRINT: Rock Climbing in North Face, Fort Collins

North Face

Colorado > Ft Collins > Poudre Canyon > Crystal Wall

Access Issue: 2024 Seasonal Raptor Closures Details

From the Canyon Lakes Ranger District Forest Service:

Fort Collins, Colo. (March 7, 2024) – to protect nesting birds of prey, the U.S. Forest Service is implementing annual area closures in several popular recreation areas throughout the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. The closures include Triple Tier, south of CO Highway 14; Boston Peak, north of CO Highway 14; Grazing Allotment Crag, northwest of Prairie Divide Road; and Mt. Olympus, southeast of US Highway 34. See the closure map for more details. Effective through July 31, 2024, the closures protect established raptor territories to ensure the birds remain undisturbed during sensitive breeding and nesting seasons.

The Canyon Lakes Ranger District partners with Colorado Parks & Wildlife and the Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition to monitor nesting progress and to inform climbers about the importance of giving raptors space to raise their young.

Federal and state laws prohibit disturbing any nesting bird of prey. Visitors can help protect wildlife by respecting all closures. Signs will be posted at key access points into the closed areas. Additional closure information is available online.

A map: fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO….

Additional information: fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO….

Description

Crystal Wall's North Face is home to the majority of routes at this crag, including several two-pitch sport climbs and two trad routes. Enjoyable routes at both moderate and difficult grades exist here, mostly on excellent rock. Northern Colorado local Craig Leubben was responsible for some of the early development on this imposing wall.

Getting There

Use the fixed line on the roadside to get up the hill to the approach trail, which approaches the northwest corner of the North Face, near the base of West Crack. When the trail forks near the base of the wall, choose one of the paths breaking left to reach the base. Continuing uphill and right through scree leads to Duke's Wall and the Southwest Alcove.

R->L:

Routes listed can be found from climber's right to left as follows:

A. Unknown West Crack, 9, 2p, 200', gear.
B. Clean-Up on Aisle 9, 8+, 1p, 65', bolts.
C. Lunch Bucket Crack, 8 PG-13, 1p, 65', bolts & gear.
D. Gates of Crystal, 8-, 1p, 60', bolts.
E. Better than Watching TV, 11+, 2p, 130', bolts.
F. Balaam, 11+, 1p, 95', bolts.
G. Crystal Method, 11+ PG-13, 1p, 175', bolts & some gear (looks tough to protect).
H. Silver Girl, 10, 1p, 80', bolts (unfinished second pitch).
I. Tour de Poudre, 12, 2p, 140', bolts.
J. Tool Man, 11, 1p, 70', bolts.
K. Thursday Afternoon Hooky, 10 R, 1p, 180', gear.
L. Fantastic Planet, 11 R, 2p, 120', bolts.
M. Farenheit 5.11, 12-, 2p, 100', bolts.
N. Bananarête , 9+, 1p, 75', bolts.
O. Orange Crimpsicle, 12+, 1p, 100', bolts.
P. Down on the Pharm, 7, 2p, 100', bolts.

Routes from Left to Right

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 30 ● Down on the Pharm Sport 2 pitches
5.12c/d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 6 ● BlackWave Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 11 ● Orange Crimpsicle Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 17 ● Trilogy Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a 88 ● Bananarête Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c 37 ● Bolt Dependence Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 26 ● Farenheit 5.11 Sport 2 pitches
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c R 8 ● Fantastic Planet Sport 2 pitches
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 29 ● The O-Face Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R 3 ● Thursday Afternoon Hooky Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 59 ● Tool Man Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a 141 ● Tour de Poudre Sport 2 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 153 ● Silver Girl Sport
5.12c/d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 2 ● Golden Girl Sport
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a PG13 3 ● Crystal Method Trad
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a 28 ● Balaam Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a 23 ● Better than Watching TV Sport 2 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b 25 ● Just Get Outside Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c 18 ● Better Than the Internet Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 56 ● Buttercup Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 142 ● Gates of Crystal Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 91 ● Lunch Bucket Crack Trad, Sport
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c 176 ● Clean-Up on Aisle 9 Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 126 ● Dr. Food Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 114 ● Saline Lock Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 9 ● Unknown West Crack Trad 2 pitches

● Down on the Pharm

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport 2 pitches

● BlackWave

5.12c/d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport

● Orange Crimpsicle

5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport

● Trilogy

5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport

● Bananarête

5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport

● Bolt Dependence

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport

● Farenheit 5.11

5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport 2 pitches

● Fantastic Planet

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c R Sport 2 pitches

● The O-Face

5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport

● Thursday Afternoon Hooky

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R Trad

● Tool Man

5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport

● Tour de Poudre

141

5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport 2 pitches

● Silver Girl

153

5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport

● Golden Girl

5.12c/d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport

● Crystal Method

5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a PG13 Trad

● Balaam

5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Sport

● Better than Watching TV

5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport 2 pitches

● Just Get Outside

5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport

● Better Than the Internet

5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad

● Buttercup

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

● Gates of Crystal

142

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

● Lunch Bucket Crack

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Sport

● Clean-Up on Aisle 9

176

5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport

● Dr. Food

126

5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport

● Saline Lock

114

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport

● Unknown West Crack

5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 2 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Saline Lock.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Justin Smestad DC
Fort Collins, CO

Left two draws on Bolt Dependence Yesterday due to getting stormed out and had to get down quickly - the last two bolts. Will be back with in the week to get them. Anyone can use them, but if you do take them down, please return. Thanks! Jun 16, 2023