On the summit in March of '03.

All Locations > Colorado > Grand Junction… > Colorado Nation… > Independence Mo… > Otto's Route (5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c)

On the summit in March of '03.

ID 1202268 ·

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You think you're tough. Here's Zane, age 5 or 6, finishing up the final overhang (with a little aid).

Otto's Route pitches.

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3.7 from 19 votes

Anonymous Coward

Mar 25, 2003

“On the summit in March of '03.”

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Nearby Photos

Peter and Patty marrying at the top of Independence Monument after climbing Otto's Route on May 8, 2007

Matt and Bayes on the summit. First desert tower for this little 4-year old!

George Bell finishing off the crux on the last pitch.

You think you're tough. Here's Zane, age 5 or 6, finishing up the final overhang (with a little aid).

On the summit in March of '03.

Otto's Route pitches.

The dreaded desert rock lizard enjoying his lunch.

Annie coming over the crux of Otto's Route.

Sir Chris Bonington and Paul Ross.... A long way from Cumbria.

Mike pulling the summit ledge.

Bayes getting to "lead" the little summit "pitch" after pitch 4.

Rapping off Otto's Route.

Jason pulling the final overhang.

Rapping down the Monument--what red soil! Crazy!

The final pitch.

Pitch 3 - short one leading to Lunchbox Ledge.

Bayes and Matt starting up the slab of pitch 4.

Independence Monument from the trail in to Otto's Route.

360 summit.

Icy summit pool.

Carl Pelletier tags the top of Otto's Route, Independence Monument.

Well that's... creative. You get to clip two of these on pitch 3!

Daniel on P4.

Rock art.

Thanksgiving day, '09.

Jekich rapping off Otto's to Lunchbox Ledge. (70m rope)

The view from the big ledge.

The final pitch.

Dean is following the crux summit pitch on Otto's route. Note the massive drilled holes for the pipes.

The lower part of Otto's Route. Green X's mark fixed anchors at the top of the first two pitches.

Brian throws the totally unnecessary (but fun!) dyno at the crux of pitch 4.

Kit signing with blood. What's with that sticker on the ammo can?

A few of the many holes left by Otto.

Wishing I were in the sun instead of the frigid notch.

First glimpse of The Monument.

From above and below!

Beautiful shot of the sun behind Independence Monument.

That black tri-cam might slow him down.

Summit graffiti.

View from gully of Otto's Route.

Boulder in gully of Otto's Route.

2nd time climbing Otto's Route. Very fun! Made it to anchors but chose not to get on top due to some super strong winds.

My dad in the Time Tunnel!

Jeeeeze it felt bigger when I was climbing it!

Yeah, I'm stoked!!

Kurt Johnson belays Carl Pelletier at the top of pitch 2, Otto's Route. Photo by Kristen Wilson.

Daniel topping out the summit boulder problem.

Eli punches his way through the difficulties.

Otto has diminished in size since first setting up his route, but he still hangs out at the summit in his comfy ammunition box.

Winter ascent.

3 Otto's and 120 oz of malt liquor.

Eli starting the offwidth crux of pitch 2.

A top out photo.

Charles Vernon looks out from the summit of Independence Monument after finishing Otto's Route.

A photo of one or both of our beloved founders (Mike and/or Ben...it's been so long I forgot) at the top of Otto's Route circa 2001, I think.

Sara on the second to last pitch of Otto's route.

the sunny side (unfortunately not where Otto's route is)

Following on Pitch 3 of Otto's Route.

Daniel on P3.