PRINT: Rock Climb Hole in the Wall, Estes Park Valley

Hole in the Wall

5.7, Sport, TR, 70 ft (21 m),

Avg: 1.5 from 15 votes
FA: Bernard Gillett, 98
Colorado > Estes Park Valley > Big Thompson Ca… > Monastery > Lion's Den

Access Issue: Area closure - now lifted. Previously: Storm Mt./Cedar Park road is reopened to all Details

Per Kurtz: The Monastery is open again! fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO….

Per Julie Nelson: the forest is closed due to after fire concerns in this area until June 30, 2021. There is a sign at the trailhead about the closure. See the US Forest Service website for further updates.

Previously: per Bruce Hildenbrand: Storm Mountain Road is open to all.

Per Hank C: the Storm Mt./Cedar Park area is closed to locals-only traffic for the time being due to wildfire concerns. We were turned away by a park ranger this morning (9/12/2020).

Access Issue: Access issue - Monastery, Cedar Park, Combat Rock, etc. - open since 2023 Details

Update: per Bruce Hildenbrand: the area has been open since 2023.

Per JF M: as of May 2022, there is no signage on-site, nor information on the USFS webpage for the Cameron Peak Fire (nor on their published map of closures) that indicates the area is closed.

Per Bruce Hildenbrand: it appears that the Forest Service has closed access to all the climbing areas accessed via Storm Mountain Road (Monastery, Cedar Park, Combat Rock, etc.) until they can clear all the dangerous dead trees from the Cameron Peak fire.

I worked this issue with Eric Murdock at the AF, and it looks like the Forest Service picked Devil's Gulch Road as the southern boundary even though all the climbing areas on MP.com were not burned.

Description

A small natural rock arch graces the belay at the top of this route. You can easily walk off this route to the right (NNE - or on to set a toprope). A decent route too, an optional nut placement just off the deck leads to the first bolt. From here either climb the groove to the left or the fin to the right of the bolts. You'll find a very easy 15-20 foot runout from the last bolt to the anchor.

Protection

Optional small not prior to first bolt, five bolts, and two bolt anchor.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The Nursery.

Hole in the Wall.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Nate Christiansen

Extremely dirty up at the top. I can't trust any of that rock. Mar 26, 2003

Jeremy Franz
Berthoud, CO

Be careful on the walk-off. There are many loose blocks in the slot to the NNE...

One star for the cool arch. No more because of the uncomfortable belay stance and loose rock. May 27, 2003

Gary Schmidt
Boulder, CO

This route is easy to find if you simply make a right turn as soon as you arrive at the Monastery. Unfortunately we didn't make it so easy on ourselves and tried to approach from the bottom of the Outer gates. Got the grand tour of many gullies. the route itself is "ok". First bolt a little high, but easy rock. After that a bit of variety. For more fun try going straight up the fin rather than working left or right. May 30, 2003

shad O'Neel

Was looking for something easyish without pebble pinching slab climbing, and this served quite nice. Interesting stemming near the last bolt into some loosey choss, but it's easy there. Worth doing just to check out the cool arch. Seemed a touch hard for 5.6, but maybe I tried to make it challenging. Mar 23, 2004

Jeff Gustafson

Great climb in a great area. I didn't see any problems with loose rock at the top, and I thought the bolts up top set up a great belay stance. I give this route two stars, one for the climbing and one for the arch and belay set-up at the top. Aug 9, 2004

Derek W

Good climb. We used the optional nut before the first bolt and that was nice. If you climb the groove to the left of the bolts I think it felt pretty 5.6ish, the bear hug to the right of the bolts had a few 5.7 moves maybe. Fun either way. Jun 20, 2009

Canon

Cool because of the arch. Not cool because the tree is all up in your business while belaying from the base. Aug 7, 2012

Bruce Hildenbrand
Silicon Valley/Boulder

Dale Haas and I replaced the anchor hardware with SS quicklinks and SS rap rings. The hardware was provided by the American Safe Climbing Association (ASCA - safeclimbing.org). They appreciate your support. Oct 23, 2019

Denny McKenney

5.8+ R

Did this as our warm-up - mistake. The crux move is more like 5.9. Thin & a bit scary, since it's right above a sharpish rock you may land on with a fall. Not for an new leader by any means. Oct 14, 2023