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Betty and Ray's Adventure

5.6, Trad, 450 ft (136 m), 3 pitches, Grade II,  Avg: 2.1 from 23 votes
FA: unknown
Colorado > Grand Junction… > Unaweep Canyon > Main Canyon: Un… > Sun Tower Complex > Sun Towers
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Description

This three pitch route is located on the Upper Tower and climbs the right side of the arête. The climb itself wanders a bit and generally follows the line of least resistance to the summit (many variations are possible). Most of this route is in the shadows during the evening.

P1. Climb a steep dihedral directly across from Dovercourt. From the top of the dihedral, angle up and left, passing a headwall on your left. Continue a full rope length and belay on one of many ledges.

P2. Climb a rather non-descript full rope length up small dihedrals and cracks, again keeping to the right of the arête.

P3. Short scramble to the top of the tower, belay using small trees at the top of the ridge. Great views back up the canyon.

To descend, the guide recommends scrambling off to the northeast and following the low angle slabs to a descent trail. Probably a better option than our descent. We followed the ridge to a point where we could scramble down to the west, and then followed the base of the rock back to the notch between the two towers.

Protection

Standard rack - Set of stoppers, hexes, and medium-sized cams.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Looking at the Upper Tower from Dovercourt.
[Hide Photo] Looking at the Upper Tower from Dovercourt.
From about 200 feet up on Betty & Ray's.
[Hide Photo] From about 200 feet up on Betty & Ray's.
Grant starting up the dihedral.
[Hide Photo] Grant starting up the dihedral.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Nick Esker
Arvada
[Hide Comment] 1-star climbing and gear; 4-star position, views, and fun factor.

In response to the question above, we veered left above the crack, then came back right a little to follow roughly the highest point on the ridge. I peeked out right a few times at what looked like much easier climbing but didn't see anything in terms of decent protection. The left side wasn't much better, but it did offer some sparse, small, mediocre gear.

I'm curious to see what lines others took and if they offer better rock and pro.

There was a small light pole topper near the topout wedged into some rock. Weird! Oct 18, 2017
Russell Cronin
Grand Junction, CO
 
[Hide Comment] I had this exact question on Saturday. Based on the the description of pitch 1 where it says "angle up and left", I explored out to the left across the ledge to that little separated tower, but this didn't seem to be right. After deciding to call it for the evening, I reread in the route description that it keeps mostly to the right of the arete and is shaded in the evening (the wall to the left was in full sun). So when I go back, I'll choose the right arrow.... Oct 23, 2017
Michael Schneiter
Glenwood Springs, CO
  5.6
[Hide Comment] After the initial dihedral pictured, stay right. In the description above it mentions "passing a headwall on your left." Don't mistake this for the large headwall where the Icarus Line/Thin White Line goes. Stay to the right and the headwall mentioned is just the lefthand face of the moderate corner you climb. I think it's misleading in the description when it says to "angle up and left" from the top of the dihedral when you are really going to the right. There's a nice set of corners, broken by many ledges with different options to belay, on the right. All relatively clean and very moderate. Dec 5, 2017
[Hide Comment] Had to bail because of rain on Sunday.... I left an anchor on pitch 1 and 2. Would be stoked if someone found my gear! Hopefully we'll be back soon. May 21, 2018