PRINT: Rock Climb Natural Born Driller, Estes Park Valley

Natural Born Driller

5.11c, Sport, 70 ft (21 m),

Avg: 2 from 18 votes
FA: Steumke and Gillett
Colorado > Estes Park Valley > Big Thompson Ca… > Monastery > Catacomb

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

NBD is down the hill from Contortionist's Forte and about 5 or 6 routes down the hill on the west-facing arete. Steep and sometimes slick rock adds in to the fun of this good-holded, endurance route. Crux at the 4th bolt while turning the arete.

Protection

7 draws. Tough to TR cause the anchor is on other side of arete. Bring long slings to TR.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Christina kalb
Boulder, CO

5.11c

I found the climbing on this route to be really awkward, and the holds slippery. I didn't really enjoy it. Jun 16, 2008

Dusty
Fort Collins

5.11c

I'd definitely recommend this route. It has some pumpy steep climbing on good smooth stone, to a cruxy move around the corner, to some techy slab moves on pebbles. A bit of everything, what more could you ask for? Feb 5, 2009

Colin Kenneth
Fort Collins, co

I love this route. Even when I climb a number grade harder than this, it'll spit me off if I don't pay attention to what I'm doing. It's possible to use friction holds around the right at both the 2nd and 3rd bolts, but I think the direct route up the face is harder, more sustained, more technical and more fun. If you are capable, go straight up until right at the 4th. May 31, 2009