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Skin Mechanic
5.10,
Trad, Sport, 2 pitches,
Avg: 2 from 8
votes
FA: unknown
Colorado
> Lyons
> St Vrain Canyons
> S Fork of St Vr…
> Observatory Rock
Access Issue: MM 23-29.5 - now ended daily CO 7 highway closure/delays
Details
Per Kai Bouwman: the daily CO 7 highway closure/delay access issue is no longer a problem according to CDOT the construction finished as of Nov. 11, 2022. From CDOT: Colorado Highway 7 is closed daily from MP 23-29.5. Motorists can only travel through the area between 6-8 am and 4-7 pm. During these timeframes, pilot cars will lead alternating one-way travel. Drivers should plan for delays, and this schedule will remain in place through Memorial Day 2022.
During the closure, motorists need to take US 36 to CO 7.
codot.gov/projects/co7-lyon…
Description
On the left side of Observatory Rock is an alcove with several lines, including the sport route, Killer Instinct on the far left. Skin Mechanic starts off right of KI on a bolt protected 5.10 slab/face and heads for a clean 5.9 crack. Belay above the crack on the left. Pitch 2 chases up the obvious corner to the tree above for a moderate trad pitch. We walked off since it looked most simple. This was a good clean line with a nice mix of climbing. The lower section of P1 seemed a bit runout before it was possible to get in some gear.
Protection
Bring several draws and a full rack of caming units. Wires for the short second pitch are useful. Walk off to the right is probably a better option than trying to rap since there may be problems in recovering the ropes.
![The second pitch. One could easily link the first two pitches.]()
[Hide Photo] The second pitch. One could easily link the first two pitches.
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Ridgway, CO
Around Boulder, CO
I thought a green Alien was the best tool to protect the initial runout, which was 5.7-ish. That was followed by the horizontal with BOMBER gear in it, then to the first bolt. If you fell before the first bolt, the fall would be short, but there is a bit of a ledge. Be careful.
The upper crack is no gimmie and protects on a few nuts, a 3" cam and a tiny cam or two. Jun 1, 2008