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Kittens in the Tree Slab

Colorado > Buena Vista > Chalk Creek Canyon

Description

This is the nice looking, obvious slab, on the right side of the road, that one passes heading up Chalk Creek Canyon. It is right before the road goes up the steep hill and just after the Agnes Vale Falls. There are a couple of trees jutting out of this slab at strange angles giving the wall its name. It has very nice, pure friction slab climbing that is more reminiscent of Yosemite than the crystal pinching of the South Platte.

Getting There

What looks to be a simple approach is complicated by a series of hidden houses blocking access to the public land. In order to avoid any of these access issues, it is best to approach the wall from above (the west) which avoids all private land. Head South from Buena Vista on US Hwy 285 for about 8 miles, and turn right on CR 162, towards the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs. Follow this road for 10-15 minutes passing the hot springs. Park exactly when the road turns to dirt at a bridge. Cross the bridge, and immediately turn right picking up an old forest road. Follow this flat road for about 10 minutes to where it turns to a foot path, then continue on the foot path a couple minutes more to where it ends in the woods just before a steep dropoff. From here, there are two options:

1.Downclimb a short section through the cliff band, and then walk over to the wall. There is an old, fixed rope in the vicinity of the power lines that helps with this.

2.Hike up and left to the top of the crag. From here, you can rappel the wall in three raps with 2x 60m ropes.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 1
Kittens in the Tree Slab Route
Trad 3 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Kittens in the Tree Slab Route
 1
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad 3 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

As seen from across the valley.
[Hide Photo] As seen from across the valley.
The crag.
[Hide Photo] The crag.