This 1300 foot slab sits directly east of the infamous Big Rock Candy Mountain. Though much calmer in difficulty and angle, it is a beautiful piece of rock that shouldn't be missed. Think of The Vegetable as great place to climb a LONG way without the serious commitment of its neighbor. With direct sun all day, an easy approach hike, and two eight-pitch 5.fun routes, there is no excuse not to come and test your foot pain tolerance.

The approach is the same as Big Rock Candy Mountain. Either follow FS-360 south / west for approximatley 8 miles from Stump Road outside Westcreek or follow FS-360 north from Florissant approximately 14 miles to Metberry Gulch (FS-205). The road from Florissant is definitely recommended, as it is much faster and smoother the whole way. You will absolutely need a high clearance, 4WD vehicle once you turn onto Metberry Gulch (FS-205). Continue for approximately 3.2 miles until you reach the hill with high tension power line towers. Park just before you reach the towers on the side of the road, looking directly down on The Great Googly Moogly Wall. Stopping here allows for a very easy approach, descent and keeps you from having to do the serious 4 wheeling of the gulch.

APPROACH: once parked, get out of the vehicle and face south. The power lines cross a small gully to the right and meet another high tension tower on top of a hill to the south west. This tower is the top of The Vegetable. This is where you will finish Mixed Greens (5.7) and Summer of Blood (5.7). Though the Haas guide recommends driving further down FS-205 to the bottom of the route, hiking to the base, climbing, downclimbing, then hiking back to the vehicles, the following makes for much less hiking. Park as stated previously and hike down the road for about 0.5 miles. Leave the road at an obvious ridge leading to the very base of the slab (before the 4WD road takes an sharp right turn and goes down a very steep hill). This route is is a little longer but is very easy to walk, easy to follow, and only has about 0.25 mile of off trail hiking, all of which is downhill.

DESCENT: once at the summit of the slab at the high tension power line tower, walk directly east along the ridge back to the road and your vehicle. From the top to your vehicle is an easy, flat, 10 minute walk. This approach and descent allow you to do all the work first and leaves all the fun as a reward.