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Phantom Ridge Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Phantom Ridge

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Three Cowboys on Drugs S 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b

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Elevation:	10,071 ft	3,070 m
GPS:	41.2842, -106.40985 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	1,387 total · 18/month
Shared By:	Dennis Horning on Jan 1, 2020
Admins:	Mike Snyder, Taylor Spiegelberg, Jake Dickerson Page Updates (admin only)

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Phantom Ridge Sport Routes

Summer only, there can be 3 -4 ft snow drifts in late June and a big snow drift at the base of the climbs which is south facing. 2019 snow was mosly gone by July 8 but the ground was quite wet. Mosquitoes came and left by Aug. Climbing is steep Solid quartzite rock at ele 10,000+' mosly south facing. Even when climbing these south faces temps hover in low 70's, so sometimes as little clothing as a T-shirt and shorts. Climbs 30' to 70' bolted.

There currently are 30 single pitch routes here, bolt protected with ram horns at the tops . Most of these route tops are easily accessible by going around to the north side of the ridge and finding the ram horn locations should you prefer to set up a top rope.

The climbs are easy to moderates ranging in difficulty from 5.6 to 5.11a/b? At least 1/3 of these route are less than 5.9. Beginners: Enjoy.

I may not get around to posting individual routes this year so use you judgement and skill level when choosing an unknown line.

Getting There

General Location: The area is about 1.87 miles NNE of 4 Stories Sport Climbing Area but the rock is white quartzite as opposed to the marble of 4 Stories. There are less face holds on this rock than a typical 4 stories route.

See approach to 4 Stories Sport Climbing area as they both use FS Rd 225. Drive just past MM 7 which is at the Middle Fork French Creek crossing, on French Creek Rd FS 225 when going south off of Highway 130. About 0.1 mile after the creek crosssing heading south, turn east, left, up steep rocky rd FS 235 Little Creek RD and follow almost 4 miles (high clearance vehicle). At about 3.7+ miles is a opening in the forest to the left which was a gravel pit (see screenshot Google Earth of this area) that one can now use to begin the approach. The blocked unused 2-track heading north from the pit leads to the clear cut described below.

The climbing outcrop is 0.72 mi NNW of the given waypoint and the top of the climbing area ridge is not very visible. The foot trail from the parking to the area will likely be a visible path and heads north into a clear cut area. At the beginning of the clear cut head NNW across the grassland to an old 2-track going into the forrest and paralleling a small creeklette. After emerging into another clear cut find the immediate 2-track going north (right) and follow it skirting in front of a glacial morrain terminus (on the ending of a boulder ridge ). Tall old growth trees block the south face view of the climbing ridge but it lies about 1/8 mi NW of this moraine end. The approach can easily be Mtn biked.

Please see Google Earth screen shot photo of the hiking path from the gravel pit parking to the base of Phantom Ridge for additional clarification.

Standing dead beetle kill trees do snap and fall accross this out of use logging road. FS 235 after high winds can have fallen trees blocking driving passage. A timber saw of some sort is useful to cut a portion of the tree off your path. I carry an 18v cordless Sawzol with a long pruning blade and a chain for towing the cut logs (optional?).