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Fumbledeedum

4th, Trad, 2000 ft (606 m), 10 pitches,  Avg: 2.6 from 31 votes
FA: unknown
Colorado > Boulder > Flatirons > Central > Dum
Warning Access Issue: 2024 Crag Closures & Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down
Warning Access Issue: Seal Cave closure. DetailsDrop down

Description

This is a really fun scrambling route from Bear Canyon all the way to the Fum-Dum col. From here, you can continue up to the top of Dinosaur Mountain or Dum. This route is great to do with no rope as there is little exposure during the hard sections, which are more like spelunking. In fact, do not attempt this route if you have claustrophobia! If you take a rope, this route is very long and may take you most of a day. For those who love 3rd-4th class adventure scrambling, this route is definitely 3 stars.

The third stratum on the north side of Bear Canyon is actually split into two pieces, the route follows this division (see photo below). Finding the start of this route is not easy. Leave the trail up Bear Canyon at the first stream crossing, upstream of Stonehenge (this is not the stream crossing on the Mesa Trail). Bushwhack NE, crossing the stream and head uphill (north), at this point you are between the third and fourth strata. A short distance up you will find a break to the east, cross through this and you are now between the two sections of the third stratum. The summit east of you is the top of Stonehenge.

Continue up into a fern filled gully. Finding this gully is they key to the start of the route. At the top of this gully is an ominous black cave with a car-sized chockstone above it, it looks like a dead end. Scramble up a slab and into the cave. The slab is quite smooth and may actually comprise the crux of the route, choose your line carefully.

Enter the cave, and continue back into it until you can see the exit, a narrow passage straight up. This is quite claustrophobic, and if you're into rebirthing, this is your place. You will exit into the sunlight at the bottom of a bowl of rocks.

I will describe the rest in less detail so as not to spoil the adventure. The next section is pure hiking, just remember to aim between the two pieces of the third stratum. Several tricky spots here provide interesting 4th Class bouldering problems (or harder if you go another way). At one point, a large tree has fallen into the gully of the route. This tree is difficult and unpleasant to pass. Eventually, you will tunnel beneath some giant blocks and emerge right at the Fum-Dum col.

From here, a faint trail heads down, eventually becoming the Mallory Cave Trail. Before you do this, it is worthwhile to head west and then up to the summit of Dinosaur Mtn or Dum.

Protection

A pair of shoes!

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The start of the route as seen from Bear Canyon Trail.
[Hide Photo] The start of the route as seen from Bear Canyon Trail.
From the summit of Overhang Rock
[Hide Photo] From the summit of Overhang Rock
Heading into the cave, towards the "rebirthing" passage.  (Most of the foreground light is from the camera flash; the cave is in fact rather dark.)
[Hide Photo] Heading into the cave, towards the "rebirthing" passage. (Most of the foreground light is from the camera flash; the cave is in fact rather dark.)
1) The cave entrance (DCP_3061s)<br>
2) Gregg emerging (DCP_3063s)<br>
3) The route up (DCP_3101s)<br>
4) The view from Dinosaur (DCP_3126s)<br>
<br>
A really fun, non-technical scramble!
[Hide Photo] 1) The cave entrance (DCP_3061s) 2) Gregg emerging (DCP_3063s) 3) The route up (DCP_3101s) 4) The view from Dinosaur (DCP_3126s) A really fun, non-technical scramble!
Coming up through the passage.
[Hide Photo] Coming up through the passage.
The view from Dinosaur
[Hide Photo] The view from Dinosaur
The route
[Hide Photo] The route
Gregg emerging
[Hide Photo] Gregg emerging
One of the many tunnels, some you can fit through, some you can't!
[Hide Photo] One of the many tunnels, some you can fit through, some you can't!

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Jake Wyatt
Longmont, CO
[Hide Comment] This route ("trail?") appear to be a great way to avoid the Flatirons hiking crowds. May 9, 2004
Joe Collins
Boulder, CO
[Hide Comment] There are several large, difficult to avoid, patches of poison ivy on this route/gully. The Black Canyon may have the reputation as the poison-ivy capitol of Colorado, but the Flatirons can be just as bad since it is often mixed in with thick vegetation. Know what the plant looks like, and STAY AWAY. May 20, 2004
[Hide Comment] There is an exposed move near the top with exposure to the west and a loose block overhead. This may be where the tree is/was, but I haven't been on this route in quite some time. In any event, I opted to retreat a bit, escape to the west, and ascend the loose and unpleasant Bowling Alley gully en route to Dum, a spectacular place indeed. After scratching up my clothes in the hole lower down, I had resolved to at least accomplish that. I will reserve comment on the poison ivy issue. Jan 22, 2006
Mike Handjam
Little Cottonwood Canyon, UT
[Hide Comment] This is one of my favorites: caves, routefinding, noxious weeds, a few climbing moves! There must be at least half a dozen tunnels though out this route. Jun 17, 2007
[Hide Comment] Tried this route last weekend and it looks like the first cave has collapsed. The rest of the route still makes for a fun scramble! Nov 20, 2008
Rob Nevitt
Louisville, CO
[Hide Comment] Sunday August 30, 2007.

My brother Mike and I took a very circuitous route to find the entrance of the first cave at the following GPS point:

N 39 58.22.7
W 105 17.23.7

The cave is definitely NOT collapsed! Great scramble. Sep 3, 2009
P. W.
 
[Hide Comment] My friend and I did this yesterday and were nearly turned back; the first cave-like feature you see when you pass between the portions of the Third Stratum has collapsed. We decided, thankfully, to keep going and look for the rest of the route, only to find that the actual cave in the route description is the SECOND cave-like feature up the hill, and it is not caved in.

After the cave, the rest of the route is mixed scrambling and hiking. The route description in the Flatirons Guidebook says this is a good training route for alpine scrambles and I agree. The combination of a long route with multiple scramble sections, loose rock and routefinding was great practice.

A+, would climb again! Jun 29, 2011
Tony B
Around Boulder, CO
  4th
[Hide Comment] Mostly a hike- lots of dirt, a little rock. Great as a hike, so-so as a climb. Finnish via the summit of the back ridge of Dino Mt for a slightly longer day. Jul 15, 2011
Eric Klammer
Eagle, CO
 
[Hide Comment] If you're looking for a continuous rock climb, this is not for you. If you're looking for a very fun scramble/adventure hike off the beaten path, then try this! Have done this route multiple times, and it is always a blast. When dry, I'd recommend descending via the climber's trail on the front side of Dino Mountain. A little hard to find, but once you do, it's only a few minutes of steep trail and an easy downclimb until you are back on the main easier trail system. Much better than the Bowling Alley.... Jan 30, 2013
Brian C.
Longmont, CO
 
[Hide Comment] Went to do this again today, and the cave section is now marked as being under a permanent bat closure. So, I guess for now this section of route is now a no-go and needs to be bypassed. Feb 6, 2015
Matt Williams
Denver, CO
[Hide Comment] The bat closure is still in place in the cave. It has a sign in place about the bat closure, so it's easily found and can be avoided heading up the gully to the left. It looks like you might be able to climb to the right at the entrance to the cave and over the top as well, but I'm not sure how hard that is. Fun scramble with no other people. Apr 6, 2020
George Bell
Boulder, CO
  4th
[Hide Comment] I've corrected the description, Ernie. Let me know if there are any more errors. Apr 29, 2020