Crack Variation
5.7 YDS 5a French 15 Ewbanks V+ UIAA 13 ZA MVS 4b British PG13
| Type: | Trad, 160 ft (48 m), 2 pitches |
| GPS: | 39.93119, -105.28395 |
| FA: | unknown |
| Page Views: | 1,643 total · 10/month |
| Shared By: | Tony B on Mar 31, 2012 |
| Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Beginning Feb. 1st each year, a seasonal wildlife closure will be in effect on Redgarden Wall in Eldorado Canyon State Park to protect nesting and roosting sites of the canyons falcons. The closure is in effect through July 31st unless lifted early due to early fledging or inactivity.
The closure includes the following climbing routes: The Naked Edge (last 3 pitches only), The Diving Board, Centaur, Redguard (last 3 pitches only), Red Ant, Semi-Wild, Anthill Direct (last 3 pitches only), and The Sidetrack.
For more info, visit dnr.state.co.us/newsapp/pre…
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
This is an extremely obscure climb with some pretty good climbing on it. Were the top section close enough to the ground to be in view and stand on its own, it would get constant traffic.
This climb, much as the variation to the Lower Meadow, starts off on the beginning of ramp at the base of The Contest and PsychGillLogical. Climb up and left on that ramp briefly into a man-eating, wide chimney (easy, no squeeze, casual) and then out onto the face. While the chimney may intuitively seem more secure, the open ramp out left of it is actually easier to climb. If you can, continue with no gear (5.5) around the corner from the South Buttress onto the Southwest Buttress before placing any gear. The belayer can follow with the rope, hugging the base and avoid a whole lot of drag.
Just as you cross the corner, several gear placements become available in a downward pointing flake overhead. Use long slings on these or continue onward (5.6, one spooky move) on the ramp leftward. There is seldom gear opportunity - and while it is not terribly difficult climbing, if you have not placed gear here and fall, your climbing career is over.
Continue on the ramp past some occasional gear placements and into a slightly right-facing HAND-CRACK. This is a near-perfect red Camalot crack for quite some way with some pods for slightly larger cams. Levin gives this climb 2 stars for this part of the pitch, no doubt. Imagine The Bastille Crack's best section without any traffic, crowds, or polished rock.
Continue up and slightly right on this until it terminates, then head left on another small broken ramp, then up and right in another crack system, eventually reaching the Upper Ramp after about 50 meters of climbing. Slightly more rope may be needed to reach a desirable belay.
To descend, head up the upper ramp and descend as for lower T2 or Touch and Go.
Location
This route starts as for The Ramp, The Lower Meadow, and at the base of Redguard, heading up and left around and arete to gain a hand-crack and wander, eventually, to the Upper Ramp.



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