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Drop Zone
5.10c,
Sport, 80 ft (24 m),
Avg: 2 from 38
votes
FA: Alan Nelson, 1996
Colorado
> Golden
> Clear Creek Canyon
> Highlands aka Highlander
Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closures/CDOT Road Work
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… 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
June 7, 2021 - TBD: Highway 6 is currently doing full road closures from Sunday night to Friday morning every week. The closure is from the junction of Highway 119 and Highway 6 to the junction of Highway 40 and Highway 6 (mile post ~260 to ~257). Vehicles that remain in the closure will be towed at owners expense.
Sundays: 7PM-4AM
Monday-Thursday: 4PM-4AM
Access Issue: 2016 Raptor Closure - Now Lifted 6/9/16
Details
Update: the raptor closure for 2016 for the Tunnel 2 Area has been lifted as of 6/9/16 per Eric Krause, JeffCo OS Ranger.
Raptor Closures for 2016:
The two areas Jefferson County Open Space intends to close in Clear Creek Canyon, shown on the attached maps, encompass the active golden 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 in 2016,
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
Description
In his many excursions around Clear Creek, Alan has picked out some unlikely looking rock that turned up some fine routes whose obscurity has left them nearly unclimbed. The East face of Highlander is one such spot, hosting half a dozen routes well worth the hike, and providing good respite from the heat. Follow the third class ramp to the right of
Big Man and up to the base of the East face, this will entail a bit
exposed scrambling. The first route you encounter is Drop Zone (I have this name in my notes from 1996, but Mark Rolofson lists the line as unnamed. I thought Alan dropped this name the day we did the route) which runs up something of a blocky corner system and a small roof. Drop Zone is good climbing on solid rock. Five years ago there was a bit surface sand to contend with, but this has largely disappeared. Adjacent to Drop Zone is the roof crack "
Dirt Me" (#31) and this is a burly crack climb.
Protection
A 50m rope, 8 draws, and something for the double bolt anchor at the top.
![The general line of the route. Easy moves down low give rise to an interesting crux near the top.]()
[Hide Photo] The general line of the route. Easy moves down low give rise to an interesting crux near the top.
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Golden, CO
Denver, CO
Arvada, Co.
I too would say 10c/d. Oct 2, 2016
Around Boulder, CO