All Locations > Colorado > Alpine Rock > RMNP - Rock > Foil

South Face

Name: South Face
Rating: 2.4

5.9+ YDS 5c French 17 Ewbanks VI UIAA 17 ZA E1 5a British R

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Routes in The Foil

L › R R › L A › Z

	Poc Club, The T 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
	South Face T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a R

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Type:	Trad, Alpine, Grade III
GPS:	40.28138, -105.67197
FA:	Duncan Ferguson and Mark Hesse
Page Views:	2,567 total · 9/month
Shared By:	paco on Jan 27, 2002
Admins:	Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC Page Updates (admin only)

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Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Access Issue: Closures Details

Seasonal closures Feb. 15-July 31. Per the Denver Post:, the Cathedral Wall and all areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off-trail travel! Per this RMNP website, "Initial closures now occur in Feb. 15 and April, when raptors return to the region and scout for nesting sites. Areas containing general habitat preferred by raptors are closed during this time. Once raptors have selected nesting spots, the initial closures are lifted or adjusted. The specific areas which raptors choose for nesting sites are closed."

For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.

General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.

Description

The South Face of The Foil starts out a lemon, but the upper half is classic. Being a solid 5.9 leader is a good thing on a few of the pitches on this route. Start up the lichen covered ledges and hit the sandbag 5.7 chimney above. By way of the Rossiter topo, we almost linked the 1st four pitches in two with a 60m rope. The only runout section on the runout pitch felt to be around 5.7/8? with a strenuous, well-protected, 5.9 section after that.

Just make sure you traverse left in the right spot to find the second to the last pitch. This is so damn good and exposed. This is the pitch you want to lead, so make sure your partner doesn't get it! You can also link the last two in one with 60m. After finishing the summit ow, you can take turns standing on perhaps the narrowest summit in the park.