This line is a steep gauntlet requiring a mastery of straight in crack technique, sporty trickery, and laser focus.
A short scramble leads to the base of the main fissure where a poor #3 should keep you off the ground. Utilize both solid and rattly hands, rings, and fingers until the obvious crack begins to wane at an intermediate anchor.
Past that anchor, the severity gets turned up through easier 5.12 crimping. The precariously balanced boulder that was once far above and to the right, is now almost just beneath you and getting closer with every move. A tricky, yet crucial, #2 placement helps protect this a bit, but consider padding the boulder gritstone style as well. A quick crimp battle through the bulge is protected by a high bolt and a short runout on easy terrain gives way to the final anchor.A detailed approach can be found in the climbing area map feature.
This is the main fracture splitting the massive overhanging wall on the south face of Outer Space Rock, under the balanced boulder. When coming in from the north of Horsetooth, it won't look like much until you're under it, but from the south side approach, it's pretty obvious.
Singles 0.4-#3
Doubles 0.75, #1, & #2 (give or take)
A few quickdraws
Geoff Slater reportedly first aided this route sometime in the early '90s. Aside from Pat Goodman and a few others attempting free ascents, the route sat mostly unappreciated. Over two decades later, the crack was rediscovered by Ryan Nelson. Free ascents were attempted once again by him and Ben Scott. Later Collin Turbet, Ryan Gajewski, and Dakota Walz picked up where they left off until it finally went free in the winter of 2017.
Baltimore, MD
Boise, ID
Flagstaff, AZ--> FoCo, CO
Did you ever hit said grit boulder?.... Carrying a pad would be quite a bonus point. Sep 8, 2018
Boise, ID
I prefer the trail that follows the west side of Horsetooth if only because it's quieter and prettier. No matter which way you take, it won't be a quick jaunt.
No one I know of has hit the boulder, so I can't say with 100% certainty that you would or wouldn't. We had it "padded" with a haul bag stuffed with jackets just in case though. Sep 8, 2018