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Questa Flatiron

New Mexico > Taos Area > Questa Dome
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Description

The Questa Flatiron is a smooth-faced 230' southwest-facing granite formation above The Legs formation. In fact, the flatiron is mostly an extension of The Legs but looks and feels separate enough to have its own name. The summit of the flatiron is a great perch offering unobscured views of the Questa Dome and surrounding area. Further adding to the satisfaction of reaching the summit of the flatiron is the fact that it involves fifth class climbing no matter how you try to tackle it.

Climbing on the Questa Flatiron makes for a great second route of the day after you've done a route on the main dome or on its own for a nice mellow introduction to the area. The second pitch of the Questa Flatiron Original Route makes for a great way to extend your climbing of Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre (Original 5.8).

Getting There

Primary approach: Hike up the main Questa Dome trail from the parking area for about 25 minutes until you see a major talus slope/drainage on the left. Scramble up this talus slope for about 15 minutes as the talus ends and you end up hiking up sparsely vegetated soil and downed trees. Keep and eye out for cairns and a low point in the faint ridge to your right. Cross over this blocky ridge at the cairns and descend easy, grassy terrain to the base of the flatiron.

Secondary approach: Climb the excellent Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre (Original 5.8) route to its top and then continue up beyond the bolt anchor at the top of the third pitch of that route to a decent sized tree with rap slings. Rap down a short distance from the tree to the base of the flatiron.

Tertiary approach: We climbed a pitch of adventurous ~5.9 from near the base of the Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre (Original 5.8) route directly up to the downed trees ledge at the base of the flatiron. There is some loose rock on this approach pitch and until that gets cleaned up, this isn't a recommended approach.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 1
Questa Flatiron Original Route
Trad 2 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 1
Tell Your Feet Heads Up
Trad 2 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Questa Flatiron Original Route
 1
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad 2 pitches
Tell Your Feet Heads Up
 1
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad 2 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Nearing the summit of the Questa Flatiron
[Hide Photo] Nearing the summit of the Questa Flatiron
Routes on the Questa Flatiron
[Hide Photo] Routes on the Questa Flatiron
The Questa Flatiron viewed from near the top of the Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre route.
[Hide Photo] The Questa Flatiron viewed from near the top of the Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre route.