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The Witch House Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in The Witch House

L › R R › L A › Z

	Do Not Resurrect S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Grimoire S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Necromancer, The S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Resurrected From Ashes S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Rising From Ashes S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Sadistic Ritual S 5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c

Order Wrong? Sort Routes

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Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Elevation:	7,314 ft	2,229 m
GPS:	39.74038, -105.41542 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	654 total · 20/month
Shared By:	Layton B on Mar 14, 2023 · Updates
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closures Details

Please be aware of the annual raptor seasonal closures!

Raptor Closures Effective February 1-July 31

Visit: jeffco.us/open-space/news/2…

Tunnel 1 closure
For more details visit: jeffco.us/open-space/alerts…

CCC Raptor Nesting Closure 1 (MM 270, W of Tunnel 1). Photo reconfiguration: Ron Keller.

CCC Raptor Nesting Closure 2 (E of Tunnel 2). In 2016, the closure WAS lifted June 9 for ONLY the 2016 season, per Eric Krause, JeffCo OS Ranger. Photo reconfiguration: Ron Keller.

The two areas Jefferson County Open Space intends to close in Clear Creek Canyon, shown on the attached maps, encompass the active eagle nests. If the Clear Creek eagles continue to nest in the active nests, these areas will remain closed from February 1 through July 31. If the eagles choose different nesting sites, the closures will be adjusted accordingly to protect those eagles during their breeding season.

Currently, rock climbing areas that fall inside of the seasonal raptor closures include:

Blonde Formation
Bumbling Stock
Evil Area
Ghost Crag
Highlander
Skinny Legs
Stumbling Block
Tetanus Garden
Fault Caves

Description

The Witch House is a small crag above The Crystal Tower near Tunnel 6.

This crag has several linkups/alternate starts for the two furthest right routes - there are three established starts and five exits. The lowest start towards the back left of the cave is the highest quality and adds about 15 feet of horizontal, 12c ish climbing. The short arete start is about 10 feet of V5 ish. The far right is V1.

Please respect the red tags

L=>R:

A1. Grimoire, 5.13b, 1p, 40', bolts.

A2. The Necromancer, 5.13a, 1p, 40', bolts.

B. Sadistic Ritual, 5.13a/b, 1p, 50’, bolts.

C. Do Not Resurrect, 5.12d, 1p, 35', bolts.

D. Resurrected From Ashes, 13a, 1p, 35', bolts.

E. Rising From Ashes, 5.12c, 1p, 30', bolts.

Getting There

Park at the Primo Wall/Nomad's Cave parking area. Take the trail down stream to the tyrolean between East Colfax and The Armory. After crossing the tyrolean, head up the gully between The Armory and The Crystal Tower.

A steep trail has been established and the upper half has some light scrambling. Please use caution on the approach. If you knock rocks loose, they can make it down to the trail between The Armory and The Crystal Tower. The developers spent a bit of time developing the trail and removing loose rock, but there is still a bit of it along the approach. Since it’s new area, a lot of shifting can be expected with more traffic.

If you come across rocks that are not secured, please try to secure first them instead of trundling them. If you must trundle, please do so during on a weekday or at night and ensure no one is in the area. Every time you trundle a rock in this gulley, it damages the trail and loosens up other stuff. Bigger rocks have gone all the way down to the river.

Above the Witch House to the right, there is hill with loose rock. A lot of it has been moved or secured but there is still a bit in the area. Most rock that falls from this area lands on the slab and funnels down to the belay ledge at the Witch House. If you go up above the Witch House, please use caution.