All Locations > Colorado > Empire > Halidome

West Tower Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in West Tower

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Empire's New Groove T 5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c

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Elevation:	10,460 ft	3,188 m
GPS:	39.77009, -105.74593 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	245 total · 18/month
Shared By:	Matt Rhodin on Nov 1, 2023
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: Raptors Details

While not officially surveyed, there are signs of raptor activity across most sectors of the Halidome. Please consider limiting your climbing here to late summer/fall. That's when conditions are best anyway, with October being the prime month.

Description

The West Tower is a newly developed buttress of the Halidome on its far left side. It utilizes an approach gully separate to the main wall and actually tops out higher than the main wall itself.

Getting There

Use the same parking as for the rest of the walls. Follow a tongue of talus (see the photo) up to the base of the approach gully. Continue up the gully, and you will soon encounter a short ~15 foot fixed line (2 bolt anchor) passing a large chockstone. An ascender here is preferable but not mandatory. You can get by with just a Grigri. Immediately after is a second fixed line (2 bolt anchor) passing another chockstone - this one a bit longer. Continue up loose talus/scree for another hundred or so yards until you arrive at the the final chockstone. This one is passed by climbing an easy, low 5th Class slab (~40 feet) to the left with a fixed line in place (2 bolt anchor) for a self belay. Continue up the gully hugging the right wall until you reach the base of Empire's New Groove. Expect about 45-60 minutes total if it is your first time.