3rd Flatiron Alternate Starts

I’m planning on doing the 3rd Flatiron this weekend and was wondering if anyone knows of an alternate place to start the climbs. I checked MP and all the climbs listed start on the East Bench, which is about halfway up the Flatiron. I think it would be fun to start at the base and climb up to the East Bench. Then have the option of stopping at the East Bench (if it’s crowded) or continuing on to the top for a longer climb.

Are there any climbs that start at the base of the 3rd Flatiron?

Has anyone climbed from the base up and can you pass on any info?

Hi Jason,

Try East Face Left 5.5 One can pretty much climb anywhere on the low angle east face. I think that you pass the standard east face approach and continue on The Royal Arch Trail and do a little bushwhack to the nadir of the face at a faint drainage.

East Face left is lots of fun. Cool little roof to pull, weird old bolts, and the bushwack isn't bad at all to get there. I totally onsighted it. (EDIT: onsighted the bushwack...)

Any Ideas how the hike in is?

Is it longer/shorter than to the East Bench?
Easier/Harder?

It's harder to find, and it involves some bushwhacking. Three weeks ago there was some poison ivy. On the other hand, the elevation gain from Chautauqua is much less, the climb is at least as good and significantly longer, and crowds are not a problem.

Does it rate an 'easy solo' like the standard route?

You can definitely do a variety of starts from the base of the 3rd. Far Left and Left East Face. There are the occasional stray 1/4" bolt, but just climb. For the most part, it seems like those starts are harder & a bit less clean than the Standard East Face. They add ~2 rope lengths to the climbing. Definitely, poison ivy! The hike feels longer because you bushwhack. Definitely looser trail...made slippery if snowy or wet. You can get hit by things dropping if there are folks on the Standard East Face, like biners, watches, nuts.

Kevin Friesen wrote:Does it rate an 'easy solo' like the standard route?

I thought so. If you don't want to pull the roof head on, you can skirt around it easily.

Just hike to the east bench and downclimb- it's not too bad.

brenta wrote:It's harder to find, and it involves some bushwhacking. Three weeks ago there was some poison ivy. On the other hand, the elevation gain from Chautauqua is much less, the climb is at least as good and significantly longer, and crowds are not a problem.

Yep, total bushwack. Just cross the streambed and follow to the base. I think once you get on it though you are pretty much committed to the gash. That is unless you want to climb down and across the the standard route which from what I saw is a bit difficult and with minimal protection.

East Face will keep you out of the crowds though..

Umm - Total Bushwack? Not really, just walk across the stream bed as you reach the blocky steps leading up hill - look right and you will see "Multiple Social Trails" through the woods to grandmother's house we go...

IMPORTANT - as you climb up hill after crossing the streambed - trend left around the base of the first big rock you come to - if you go right you might as well do the standard route which is a bigger bushwack uphill from there...

5th Flatiron ='s total bushwack

Tits McGee wrote:Umm - Total Bushwack? Not really, just walk across the stream bed as you reach the blocky steps leading up hill - look right and you will see "Multiple Social Trails" through the woods to grandmother's house we go... IMPORTANT - as you climb up hill after crossing the streambed - trend left around the base of the first big rock you come to - if you go right you might as well do the standard route which is a bigger bushwack uphill from there... 5th Flatiron ='s total bushwack

Felt like that when we were there...I'm guessing we took the wrong way, but it sure seem to be scambling over loose dirt etc, although short. I'm sure there is a more direct path though.

Haven't done the 5th, so I have no comparison.

Scott McMahon wrote:Haven't done the 5th, so I have no comparison.

The Fifth is a bushwack up and a 4th class bushwack down - and I did it in the dark which adds another bushwack grade - so bushwack grade VII

Which side of the Fifth?

The north east face

Thanks. Did you come down between Fourth and Fifth? The descent to the south is not bad in daylight.

yes between fourth and fifth to meet up with the royal arch trail

Indeed, that's a bushwhack. I believe most people who have done it have done it exactly once. A friend and I recently linked up Fourth, Fifth and Third, in that order. Instead of descending between Fourth and Fifth, we traversed to the faint trail south of the Fifth. It worked reasonably well.

look straight up and go where ever you want, Choose your own adventure, It's fun that way and it all goes, If it's to hard then move a couple feet left or right when that happens. Super fun adventure, make your own line and have fun.

Thanks for the help guys.
I'll give that route a try, If I can survive the bushwack.

Jason

East Face left is the best route on the 3rd in my opinion. The closeness to the edge gives it a more exposed feel, and it's longer than the rest by a significant amount. Enjoy it, but know it is harder than the rest.
As for the 5th flatiron, like others I've come back down to the north only once... and to the south ever since.