Type: | Trad, Alpine, 800 ft (242 m), 5 pitches, Grade IV |
FA: | Layton Kor and Tex Bossier, 1963. FFA: John Bragg and Bill Briggs, 1978 |
Page Views: | 1,076 total · 11/month |
Shared By: | Kishen Mangat on Jun 27, 2016 |
Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
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Access Issue: Closures
Details
Seasonal closures Feb. 15-July 31. Per the Denver Post:, the Cathedral Wall and all areas above the Loch Vale-Sky Pond Trail are closed to off-trail travel! Per this RMNP website, "Initial closures now occur in Feb. 15 and April, when raptors return to the region and scout for nesting sites. Areas containing general habitat preferred by raptors are closed during this time. Once raptors have selected nesting spots, the initial closures are lifted or adjusted. The specific areas which raptors choose for nesting sites are closed."
For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.
General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.
For additional information about raptor closures, please visit the Rocky Mountain National Parks area closures website.
General NPS climbing regulations for RMNP posted here.
Description
We climbed this route in late June 2016. It does not appear to see much action. Twelve years prior my partner had linked Grey Pillar into Yellow Wall for a complete alpine tour of The Diamond. We were too slow to repeat the link up due to the Gray Pillar being very wet in late June. This is definitely type 2 fun.
Pitch 1 – climb a fun and varied crack to a two-bolt anchor with slings. There is some loose rock, 5.9, 150 feet.
Pitch 2 – launch into a challenging and runout offwidth. It is possible to place cams in cracks inside the offwidth. It seemed hard for 5.8+. At the top of the offwidth, move left across 5.9 R face climbing to the base of a large, left-facing dihedral, 150 feet.
Pitch 3 – climb the dihedral to a vertical / overhanging wall. Make moves on variable rock through the overhanging section to a stance at the base of a large roof, 5.10, 150 feet.
Pitch 4 – climb through the crux roof band or climb 5.10 R around and to the left of the roof. Above the roof, continue on sparsely protected and somewhat loose crack climbing. The roof was a waterfall when we climbed it and required direct aid. Don’t go too early in the season if you see snow above the climb, 5.11-, 120 feet.
Pitch 5 – ascend enjoyable 5.7 crack climbing to Broadway, 200 feet.
Descent: you will reach Broadway above (to the south) of Pervertical Sanctuary. Getting over to main Broadway and the Crack of Delight rappels is non-trivial, especially if there is snow as there was for us in late June. If there is no snow, then Crack of Delight is the preferred route. Another option is the Endless summer rappels, to the south or looker's left, which involves six double rope rappels (all new two bolt anchors). This should only be used when required due to rock fall caused by traversing Broadway to the east. On the Endless Summer rappel, you have to down climb to skiers left after third rappel - this is very exposed. Be aware of rockfall on this rappel route.
Pitch 1 – climb a fun and varied crack to a two-bolt anchor with slings. There is some loose rock, 5.9, 150 feet.
Pitch 2 – launch into a challenging and runout offwidth. It is possible to place cams in cracks inside the offwidth. It seemed hard for 5.8+. At the top of the offwidth, move left across 5.9 R face climbing to the base of a large, left-facing dihedral, 150 feet.
Pitch 3 – climb the dihedral to a vertical / overhanging wall. Make moves on variable rock through the overhanging section to a stance at the base of a large roof, 5.10, 150 feet.
Pitch 4 – climb through the crux roof band or climb 5.10 R around and to the left of the roof. Above the roof, continue on sparsely protected and somewhat loose crack climbing. The roof was a waterfall when we climbed it and required direct aid. Don’t go too early in the season if you see snow above the climb, 5.11-, 120 feet.
Pitch 5 – ascend enjoyable 5.7 crack climbing to Broadway, 200 feet.
Descent: you will reach Broadway above (to the south) of Pervertical Sanctuary. Getting over to main Broadway and the Crack of Delight rappels is non-trivial, especially if there is snow as there was for us in late June. If there is no snow, then Crack of Delight is the preferred route. Another option is the Endless summer rappels, to the south or looker's left, which involves six double rope rappels (all new two bolt anchors). This should only be used when required due to rock fall caused by traversing Broadway to the east. On the Endless Summer rappel, you have to down climb to skiers left after third rappel - this is very exposed. Be aware of rockfall on this rappel route.
Location
The route is located between Directagonal and Fields' Chimney. Locate two parallel cracks in the face. Grey Pillar starts in the right of the two parallel cracks.
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