PRINT: Rock Climb Spuds in Space, Rifle Mountain Park

Spuds in Space

5.9-, Sport, 80 ft (24 m),

Avg: 2.7 from 146 votes
FA: unknown
Colorado > Rifle > Rifle Mtn Park > Ice Cave Walls > Middle Ice Caves (Pot…

Description

50 yards farther North on the trail from Merry Maids at the top of a slippery dirt hill are three beginner (for Rifle) routes. Spuds in Space is the route on the left slightly down from the top of the hill.

This is a good, well protected route with slightly polished/greasy holds. The crux is about halway up going over a mini-overhang. It is not exactly a beginner route, but at Rifle it is as close as you are going to come. This is a fairly long route and probably should be done with a 60m rope just to be sure.

Protection

9 bolts to a 2 bolt anchor.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The old bolts that were pulled and replaced with nice, stainless hardware from the ASCA.

Clipping close to the top.

Just before the anchors.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Ken Trout
Golden, CO

This used to have the worst, slippery, belay zone. But this summer, 2007, we found a nice new ledge with a retaining wall and some steps. Thanks! Nov 20, 2007

BJ Sbarra
Carbondale, CO

5.9

This was rebolted today courtesy of hardware from the ASCA. Aug 22, 2010

E Johnson
Boulder, CO

Thanks for the new bolts and nice belay spot.
No way would I call this route well protected for anyone less than 5'9". No way would I recommend it to a new 5.8 leader. I'm not a new 5.8 leader and the runout wore me down before I got to the crux which I read is the bulge. For the clip below the bulge, I was 3 feet above my last clip and 3 feet from my next with handholds/footholds that were widely spaced and gleaming with polish, too. Delicate moves, high body tension, and a mind made of steel were going to be required to continue. By the time I'd gotten there, twice I'd had to clip bolts stretching as far as I could from a decent stance to be able to press the gate open with the bolt (in other words I couldn't hold the gate open with my thumb and still make the clip)! Nerve wracking. It doesn't need to be so scary. May 22, 2012

DavidCollins
Grand Junction, CO

Great route. Solid rock, nice range of moves. I don't think it's that bad for a 5.8 leader. Perhaps bolts are spaced a bit further apart than other routes in the area but moving onto the good holds for clipping keeped it OK. Oct 7, 2012

Curtis Summers
Fort Worth Texas

5.9

I was here in September of 2013, and the new Rifle Mountain Park book by Dave Pegg says the route is 5.9.

Very great book by the way. Jan 30, 2014