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October Surprise
5.10b YDS 6a+ French 19 Ewbanks VII- UIAA 19 ZA E2 5b British
Avg: 2.2 from 20
votes
Routes in Main Wall
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Astrophysics T 5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a PG13 |
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Center Direct T 5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a R |
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Charisma S 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c |
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Cold Fusion T,S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b |
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David Schwimmer T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a |
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Eagles Are People Too T 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R |
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Erickson's Crack T 5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b |
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Get Shorty T,S 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b |
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Lichen To Like T 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b R |
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October Surprise T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b |
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Olympic Swimmer T 5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b |
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On Ballet T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a |
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Orange Corner T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R |
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P1 of Astrophysics (aka Bolt Cola) T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a |
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Pool Skimmer T 5.8- 5b 16 VI- 14 VS 4c |
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Reamer, The T 5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a R |
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Resolution T 5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c |
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Shimmer S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a |
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Simmer S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a |
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Slimmer T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R |
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Talon Contest T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b |
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Where Eagles Dare T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R |
| Type: |
Trad, 170 ft (52 m), 2 pitches
Fixed Hardware
(5) |
| GPS: | 40.00283, -105.38896 |
| FA: | Michael Yokell, Jim Walsh, 1992, P2 George Bracksieck & Teri Ebel, 1990 |
| Page Views: | 2,454 total · 9/month |
| Shared By: | Ivan Rezucha on Jan 7, 2005 |
| Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Access Issue: Blob Rock, East Blob reopened from raptor nesting 4/21/26
Details
The USFS closed Blob Rock & East Blob for raptor nesting through 7/31/26.
3/14/25: Blob was reopened.
Seasonal restrictions in Boulder Canyon to protect nesting birds of prey
Boulder, Colo. (2/1/24) – to protect nesting golden eagles, the U.S. Forest Service is implementing annual area closures in Boulder Canyon beginning Feb. 1, 2024. The closures include popular rock climbing spots at Eagle Rock, Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress, and Security Risk in Boulder Canyon.
From W. McCurry: as of 2/10/23 Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security Risk are open. Eagle Rock remains closed until 7/31/23. More info can be found: fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news….
Previously: per K. Reid Armstrong, Public Affairs Specialist, Arapaho & Roosevelt NFS: as of 4/15/22, Blob Rock, East Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress, and Security Risk are now open.
Eagle Rock remains closed to climbing through July 31, 2022.
Access Issue: Seasonal raptor closures for 2026 - Bitty Buttress, Blob, East Blob, Security Risk - open. Eagle Rock, Vampire, Black Widow Slab - closed.
Details
The USFS closed Blob, E Blob, Security, Bitty, Vampire, and Black Widow through 7/31/26.
5/19/25 Eagle Rock opened. 3/14/25: Bitty Buttress, Blob, & SR reopened.
2/3/25. Bitty Buttress, Blob, Eagle Rock &, Security Risk closed for raptors.
FS (3/27/24): Eagle Rock & Security Risk are now open!
2/1/24: W. McCurry: USFS annual closures in Boulder Canyon as of 2/1/24 - Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress, Eagle Rock, Security Risk.
W. McCurry: 2/10/23 Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security Risk opened. Eagle Rock is closed - info: fs.usda.gov/detail/arp/news….
W. McCurry, NFS, Arap./Roo. NF: USFS began annual closures in BC 2/1/23. The closures: Eagle, Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security.
Through 7/31/23, the closures protect golden eagle nesting territory. Happy Hour, Bihedral & Riviera will remain open as long as visitors stay out of the closed areas.
The Boulder Ranger District with BCC monitors nesting progress & informs climbers re: giving eagles space to raise young.
Fed. & state laws prohibit disturbing any nesting bird of prey. Visitors help protect wildlife by respecting closures. Signs are posted at key access pts into the closed areas. Closure info: fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/eagles.
K. Armstrong, Public Affairs Specialist, Nat'l Forest Service: as of 6/8/21: BC areas reopen after unsuccessful nesting.
K. Armstrong, NF Ranger 7/29/20: following a 5 mo. closure to protect nesting eagles, the Roosevelt NF reopened Eagle Rock.
“The BC eagles successfully raised 1 strong & healthy eaglet this year,” wildlife biologist Aurelia DeNasha, USDA FS. “2 chicks hatched initially, only 1 survived to fledge, which isn’t uncommon in birds of prey.”
Visits to the nest did not reveal the exact cause of death of the 2nd chick, but climber cooperation with closures are crucial to the eagles.
“Golden eagle pairs are most susceptible to disturbance when choosing a nest. These closures allow the birds to pick the best site for survival without impact of other factors, such as human presence. Once chosen, nest sites stays closed until the eagles fledge in late July,” said DeNasha.
After the eagles’ site selection was made, unused areas opened in Apr.
The annual nesting closures include popular rock climbing spots at Eagle, Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security.
Through 7/31/20, the closures protect a long-established golden eagle nesting territory. Happy Hour, Bihedral & Riviera remain open as long as visitors stay out of the closed areas.
It is against federal & state law to disturb any nesting bird of prey. Only employees, volunteers, & wildlife professionals under an agreement with the FS enter nesting areas for monitoring purposes. This is for the integrity of nest & the safety of the eagles, those conducting surveys, & the public. Visitors help protect wildlife by respecting all closures & leaving immediately if you should accidentally enter one.
For the most current closure information, check signs in the areas, call the Boulder Ranger District office @ 303-541-2500, or visit local climbing websites or fs.usda.gov/recmain/arp/rec….
4/21/20, Blob Rock, East Blob Rock, Bitty Buttress, & Security Risk are open. Eagle Rock stays closed until 7/31/2020 confirmed with Matt Henry, Rec Prog Mgr, FS.
K. Armstrong, FS Pub Aff, katherine.armstrong@usda.gov, 970-222-7607: 3/20/19, Blob, East Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security are open. Eagle stays closed to climbing & other activities through 7/31/19.
See - fs.usda.gov/recmain/arp/rec….
Perennial notice:
Eagle, Blob, Bitty Buttress, & Security will close 2/1 - 7/31 for nesting. Depending on updated information, the closure time can be shortened/lengthened.
Each year, BC raptor nesting area closures are in effect starting 2/1 through 7/31 at Eagle, Security, Blob, & Bitty Buttress. The area is monitored & closures are periodically lifted early (due to no active nest, nest site failure, or early fledging). This monitoring program is a partnership with the FS Boulder Ranger District, BCC, & Audubon Society. Check back periodically during times of closure for updates. More info at fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/rec….
Description
October Surprise is listed in Rossiter's guidebook as a variation to the 2nd pitch of On Ballet. I am describing it with a nice first pitch, that, unfortunately, has been dumbed down a bit with 3 unnecessary bolts. The first pitch is pleasant but nothing special, but I really liked the second pitch. Moving right from the flakes into the left-facing corner was strange and spooky (although well-protected). Above that, moving left under the slanting roof looked hard but turned out to be moderate with toprope protection.
Rossiter and Rolofson call this 2nd pitch 10a, but I'll call it 10b to be safe.
P1 5.9: Start left of On Ballet at 2 bolts a little above the ground. You could climb trad left or right of these bolts. Pull the bulge at the second bolt at about 5.9 or 10a. Continue up easy ground to a white dike that passes a bulge near an arete. The gear is a bit strange at this move but OK. There is good gear down a ways. Get it. This move seems hard at first, but if you step right then back left it goes easily. More moderate climbing leads to a V-slot through another bulge. This is a little left of the final, right-facing corner on P1 of On Ballet. There is one bolt here. Although useful, it's not necessary, since there is excellent gear a few feet below. The moves here are fun and unusual, but not real hard. Angle left up a ramp then hand traverse right to the On Ballet belay. There are 2 new convenience bolts here. Somehow, people have been able to climb On Ballet for years without these bolts, but they ARE convenient if want to do just the first pitch, and they enable you to rap from the top of the second pitch with one rope.
Addendum: This pitch is the first pitch of Charisma.
P2: Continue straight above the belay on a series of rounded flakes with good gear. When the flakes run out move up and right into a left-facing corner (crux). You can place a blue Alien at the bottom of this corner before starting the moves. Good holds and gear await you at the top of the corner. Angle left across the slab below the ceilng with excellent gear above you to another 2 bolt anchor (also new).
1 2-rope rap or 2 1-rope raps get you down.
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