Type: | Trad, Alpine, 500 ft (152 m), 3 pitches, Grade II |
FA: | Burns and Ervin, 1925 |
Page Views: | 10,116 total · 101/month |
Shared By: | Mike Soucy on Jul 18, 2016 |
Admins: | Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC |
Your To-Do List:
Add To-Do ·
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
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
The North Chimney, which splits the Lower East Face of Long's Peak, is the most commonly used route to access Broadway and The Diamond. It has a well-deserved reputation for loose rock is and has been the scene of numerous rockfall-related accidents. Carelessness and poor rope management have been the cause of most of these; consider soloing when possible, using shortened ropes when simul-climbing, and thoughtful pro to keep ropes from inadvertently trundling rocks. In general, use great care at all times keeping in mind there will almost always be parties underneath you.
The following description exists to familiarize climbers with routefinding in order to minimize rockfall:
1. Climb snow towards the bottom right edge of the obvious slab of the Lower East Face. Continue briefly up a snow tongue into the bottom of the chimney until you can easily transition left onto ledges at the base of the slab. The technical climbing starts here.
2. Follow cracks and short corners up the right edge of the slab for ~300'. There's a good belay stance at a pin at ~200'. Another shorter pitch leads to a loose ledge. Stop here and belay or direct your rope carefully to avoid the choss.
3. Stay left, climb a short bulge, and continue easily to a good stance at a large flake. A steep but moderate left-facing corner splits off left here; this is your third and final pitch up and left to Broadway. To be clear, leave the North Chimney at this corner, and climb out on the left wall. Continuing upwards yields worse rock quality and trickier route finding. Belay at the bottom of the D1 Pillar.
The following description exists to familiarize climbers with routefinding in order to minimize rockfall:
1. Climb snow towards the bottom right edge of the obvious slab of the Lower East Face. Continue briefly up a snow tongue into the bottom of the chimney until you can easily transition left onto ledges at the base of the slab. The technical climbing starts here.
2. Follow cracks and short corners up the right edge of the slab for ~300'. There's a good belay stance at a pin at ~200'. Another shorter pitch leads to a loose ledge. Stop here and belay or direct your rope carefully to avoid the choss.
3. Stay left, climb a short bulge, and continue easily to a good stance at a large flake. A steep but moderate left-facing corner splits off left here; this is your third and final pitch up and left to Broadway. To be clear, leave the North Chimney at this corner, and climb out on the left wall. Continuing upwards yields worse rock quality and trickier route finding. Belay at the bottom of the D1 Pillar.
Location
Hike past Chasm Lake to Mill's Glacier. The North Chimney is directly underneath The Diamond and Broadway Ledge, just right of center. It follows the major, left-angling chimney and is above what is generally the highest reaching bit of snow on the face apart from the Lamb's Slide.
Take the opportunity to locate the route on a beta photo. Climbers frequently mistake Field's Chimney (which is to the left) for the North Chimney when up close and/or in the dark.
Take the opportunity to locate the route on a beta photo. Climbers frequently mistake Field's Chimney (which is to the left) for the North Chimney when up close and/or in the dark.
4 Comments