PRINT: Rock Climb Kasserine Pass, Estes Park Valley

Kasserine Pass

5.13a/b R, Trad, Sport, 200 ft (61 m), 2 pitches,

Avg: 4 from 1 vote
FA: Patrick Ackerson, June 6, 2007
Colorado > Estes Park Valley > Big Thompson Ca… > Combat Rock

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.

Location

This was the route called Unfinished Business in the Rocky Mountain National Park: The Climber's Guide: Estes Park Valley; by Gillett, Bernard. The base of the route is immediately left of Blood for Oil and right of the Diagonal start.

Protection

First pitch: Five bolts, belay with #0.75 Camalots.
Second pitch: Six bolts plus 1-4 Metolius (double #1s) and one small black Alien, belay at bolts.

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The Man himself, but not at Combat.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Patrick Ackerson
Loveland, CO

5.13a/b

Crux begins at the second bolt (thin & sequential). The next three bolts are not a free ride, but noticeably easier. After the fifth bolt, run it to a large ledge and use the crack to build a belay (#0.75 Camalots are handy). The five bolts on a blank face mark the beginning of the second pitch (three bolts left are for Enemy Lines and five right are for Blood for Oil). Most of this section is sustained 11/12 climbing only breaking after the fourth bolt. Past bolt five begins the trad portion, and steepest section of the climb. First bulge take the left-facing, shallow dihedral with a finger crack to help (moderate 12). Second bulge traverse right and up into a shallow alcove and clip a lone bolt. Finish by sneaking up to slopers above the bolt and blast for the anchor (bolts). Craig Luebben was said to have described the steep section as thin and scary. May 11, 2009

allen simons

Even though Pat ticked this route a couple of years ago I have to say that I watched him climb it again 6 weeks ago or so. It is true of all great athletes that they make the most difficult maneuvers look so easy. Pat floated the crux and had I not known the difficulty I would have sworn he was on a 5.8 slab. Very strong work Pat. Let's hit that roof again, I want to see you get it. Al May 11, 2009

Scott Matz
Loveland, CO

Good work Pat, we'll have to climb sometime, I met you late night in the Big Thompson, the fastest I've ever seen a rope put in a coil in my career. Aug 12, 2009

Alex Shainman

Nice send! That is a really hard slab!! Jan 27, 2010