Pony Express, Briggs' Variation
5.11d YDS 7a French 24 Ewbanks VIII UIAA 25 ZA E5 6a British
| Type: | Trad, 120 ft (36 m) |
| GPS: | 39.93203, -105.28849 |
| FA: | Roger Briggs |
| Page Views: | 2,392 total · 12/month |
| Shared By: | Adam Brink on Mar 1, 2009 |
| Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Crags on Eldorado Mountain, such as Mickey Mouse wall and Cryptic Crags, are outside of park boundaries and may still be subject to Boulder County closures.
Previously in 2023: per M. McHugh, ECSP: the upper loop of the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail, above the Crags Hotel Ruin, & the
Continental Divide Overlook, is closed effective immediately. This included Continental Crag.
These areas are closed to all activities, including rock climbing & hiking, through 7/15 or until further notice, to protect nesting golden eagles on the S side of the canyon.
Golden Eagles are protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under authority of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A conviction of nest disturbance can carry a fine to $5,000 & one year imprisonment.
See the map in the photo section for terrain closure.
Previous years: per Dustin Bergman, CO State Parks Officer #770, ECSP:
Seasonal Raptor Closures
Check Park site for current closures:
cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/…
For more info visit:
cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/…
Double check prior to venturing there. Thanks!
Description
While this is a variation because the other Pony Express was done first, this is actually the direct line. Do Pony Express through the first pitch and into the second pitch. Where the climbing gets hard and Pony Express traverses left into the crack and arete, keep going straight up. This is the pure dihedral line straight up and adds some very technical stemming/palming moves.
Think of the first pitch of Aerial Book but harder. My guess is that Roger Briggs was doing yoga when he did the FA of this. Stretch before you try this.
You can link Iron Horse into this for one stellar 130 foot pitch of 5.11 climbing. Go do it!
Location
Climb straight up Pony Express but don't traverse left to the arete. Climb up the wicked, stemming dihedral.



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