Mike Elges leading the .10c variation. A must do if you climb the grade!

All Locations > Colorado > Alpine Rock > RMNP - Rock > Mt Meeker > Flying Buttress (5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b)

Mike Elges leading the .10c variation. A must do if you climb the grade!

ID 111235767 ·

Flag This Photo

· Copyright Violation?

As viewed from Mt. Lady Washington.

Matt rounds the corner on pitch 3. Picture taken from just past the big roof.

Rate Photo

4.0 from 1 vote

Flynn McFarland

Oct 30, 2015

“Mike Elges leading the .10c variation. A must do if you climb the grade!”

0 Comments

Nearby Photos

A comparison of Flying Buttress pre- and post- the May 2022 rockfall.

Max and Burt on the approach to the Flying Buttress

A photo of P3 after the left variation fell off. The right side variation goes at 9/10a-ish.

Buttress glowing. We found a descent path down right-side of this photo vaguely marked with cairns

A route overlay of Meeker's Flying Buttress.

The route follows the left side of the ridge. Almost exactly where the sun/shadow line is!

A shot of unknown climbers topped out on Flying Buttress, Thursday, June 21st, 2012, taken from the east side of the knife-edge ridge above. A cool photo opportunity!

Allison Variation, 5.9<br>
FDA: Dean Allison and Guy Humphrey<br>
Gear: gear to 1 inch<br>
<br>
This climb is not documented anywhere, and we saw no signs of climbers on the line. This is a good line if you prefer finger cracks to chimneys and you are not up for the 5.10 cracks on the main face. The pitch can also be used to make a four pitch route that has 5.9 climbing on each pitch. The climbing is as good or better than the upper 5.9 pitches.<br>
<br>
The climb starts to the left of the 5.8 P1 variation in a sharp layback finger crack. About halfway up the left-facing dihedral, the crack starts to disappear and the gear looks like it goes with it. There is good gear to be found, but you will need to look for it. The top of the dihedral is capped by a small roof. It forces you out on face to the right with a hidden line of holds that keeps it at 5.9. This exciting tarverse ends at a belay below the 2nd 5.9 pitch variation. Fun stuff!<br>

10a dihedral of pitch 5 (direct variation).

I'm pretty certain that this block is no longer there.

P3. The red line is the line I took. The yellow is fixed gear: a bad bolt (same as belay bolt): a pin behind a small, detached flake (would likely lever flake off with body weight), & another pin (very loose), the blue is very good 0.75. 5.9R.

Flying Buttress, August 16, 2020.

The nice 1-inch crack on pitch 3 with the 5.9+ roof above.

A route overlay for Upper Flying Buttress.

Topos of the "Direct" and "Rising Traverse" options for P3 post-rockfall. Disclaimer: I have only climbed the rising traverse (green) variation.

New route beta:
<br>

<br>
Green: Class 4 to the base.
<br>
P1 red 5.10c/d thin seam, slab feet, ledge below.
<br>
P2 purple: 5.9 fun.
<br>
P3-4 bright red/; 5.10b sketch loose traverse.
<br>
P5 blue: 5.8 fun easy finish.
<br>
Green: Class 4 down.

Tasty belay ledge atop pitch 2.

As viewed from Mt. Lady Washington.

Mike Elges leading the .10c variation. A must do if you climb the grade!

Matt rounds the corner on pitch 3. Picture taken from just past the big roof.

Looking up at the route. You can simul-climb the first 200 feet or so up the slabs, around the corner, until you feel the need....

Flying Buttress early morning from Stettner's Ledges approach.

Climbers mid-route on The Flying Buttress on Mt Meeker.

Tony Bubb approaching the 5.9 roof on P3 of the Flying Buttress of Mt Meeker. Photo by Joseffa Meir

Douglas heading up the crux pitch. Carry a #3 cam, and pull the juggy, but airy roof. So much fun!

Descent via The Loft (if you go to the summit of Meeker).

Matt at the second belay.

View of the Flying Buttress and the start of Dream Weaver.

Matt seconds the first pitch.

Chillin out on the flyin buttress.

a view from the 2nd pitch. "eric the rep" on belay.

Bring sunscreen. Max and I improvising belays high on Flying Buttress

Flying Buttress belay ledge.

Jon high on Flying Buttress. Not sure exactly where, we found route finding to be pretty difficult.

Tony Bubb on the saddle traverse above P6 of the Flying Buttress of Mt Meeker. Photo by Joseffa Meir

I'm sure I'm off route, but I couldn't resist! This crack is so PINK!

The final 3rd/4th scramble to the summit of Meeker on the Upper Flying Buttress.

Flying Buttress from the Iron Gates, specifically from the Iron Finger.

Joseffa Meir leads another clean pitch on the Flying Buttress of Mt. Meeker. Photo by Tony Bubb

Greg Williams leading p2 of Flying Buttress.

At the start of the buttress.

Almost there!

Tough to find a suitable rock to keep the marmots out.

5.9 corner on pitch 2 (left variation).

5.8 handcrack on pitch 2 (direct variation).

Douglas following....coming off the top of Flying Buttress. Wild to hear people on the actual summit of Meeker.

V-slot chimney on pitch 1 (left variation).

A route overlay of Meeker's Flying Buttress pre- and post-rockfall.

Approaching the Flying Buttress from the base side in early alpine season. Photo by Tony Bubb, Y2K.

Looking back on the initial climb of Flying Butress (5.9 or harder) on Mt Meeker from above the 6th pitch. 2 more pitches to the summit ridge. Photo by Tony Bubb, Y2K.

Douglas finishing up the pitch.

Douglas hiking up to Flying Buttress! Around the 4th of July 2008.

Start of pitch 4.

Flying Buttress is the prominent fin in the center of the photo.

Looking down, end of maybe the second pitch.

Flying Buttress of Mt. Meeker (upper left) in morning light. Ship's Prow is on the right.

Upper Buttress, the way we went. I don't think this fits the guidebook description, but it worked well and was good climbing, ~10a.

Flying Buttress from the distance

Upper Buttress, the way we went. I don't think this fits the guidebook description, but it worked well and was good climbing, ~10a.

Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started

onX products are built by adventurers, for adventurers. We believe that every adventurer needs to know where to go, to know where they stand, and to be able to share their experiences.
About onX
Careers

iOS App Store

Android App Store

© 2026 onX Maps, Inc. Terms·Privacy