Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Halls of Poison Ivy

5.2, Trad,  Avg: 2 from 10 votes
FA: unknown
Colorado > Boulder > Flatirons > North > Gregory Canyon… > Fourth Pinnacle
Warning Access Issue: Some crags in this area are closed 1 February to 31 July: DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: 2024 Crag Closures & Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down

Description

In spite of its name, this is a surprisingly good route.

Due to the poison ivy challenge in mid-route, we opted for soloing the route rather than drag our rope through the evil weed.

Start on the East face immediately left of the large overhang/dihedral that splits the face. Climb up the gully under the overhang, and arrive at a large ledge. The ledge is indeed covered with vegetation, with lots of poison ivy, but this time of year you can easily pick you way through the leaveless twigs. Or you can walk around the patch by heading South.

From here, the dihedral is well defined and a long flake/crack marks the route to the top. The rock's quality is some of the best I have seen in The Flatirons, and the climbing is aesthetic and fun. From the top, head East and downclimb 10 feet to reach the base of the summit block near the start of the descent crack.

Descent - downclimb the steep crack West of the summit.

Protection

Standard rack (we suggest you solo this route, see below)

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

[[East Face, 5.5 R]]105756085.<br> [[Halls of Poison Ivy, 5.2]]105756088.
[Hide Photo] East Face, 5.5 R. Halls of Poison Ivy, 5.2.
Don't fall in.
[Hide Photo] Don't fall in.
Warren Teissier on the initial moves of Halls O' Poisin Ivy, Fourth Pinnacle, Gregory Canyon.
[Hide Photo] Warren Teissier on the initial moves of Halls O' Poisin Ivy, Fourth Pinnacle, Gregory Canyon.
Halls of Poison Ivy.
[Hide Photo] Halls of Poison Ivy.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Ben Baird
Boulder, CO
[Hide Comment] Lots of poison ivy (hence the name) esspecially at the belays and lots of bare branches that are still covered in the stuff. Jun 9, 2008
Sam Benedict
Denver, CO
  5.2
[Hide Comment] I wanted to go check out the amphitheater the other day, but it was closed, I almost cried. So I ended up going up the fourth pinnacle or what ever the hell this is and did this route. It was fun. The ivy was dead. I was very dismayed however to find a monstrously contrived and unsightly sport route on the south edge of this formation. I also found a large wad of webbing at the summit – I guess somebody couldn’t sack up for the 4th class downclimb. I stole the webbing because it looked more like litter than a legitimate rap anchor. I was under the impression that bolting in the Flatirons was illegal without a permit. Somebody should find out who did this a beat them mercilessly with their own stinking drill. May 28, 2009
Jason Haas
Broomfield, CO
[Hide Comment] Sam, could you be more specific as to where these bolts are located? Could they possibly be the remnants of the archaic bolt ladder that exists over there from over 50 years ago? May 28, 2009
Paul Deger
Colorado
  5.3
[Hide Comment] Great little route for new leaders - not too challenging and good pro except for a little run out on above the ivy. I would bump up the difficulty a bit due to lichen can make a sure foot a little less certain. Watch thin flakes and some loose rock in a few spots. Nov 16, 2015