We did this one time accidentally trying to get to the West Face of Horsetooth Mountain. It makes for a fun day doing both walls.

Lost in Tradlation

Survived By

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.

Toprope access for the crux is made clean and easy by stick clipping the intermediate anchors from atop the boulder. TR access for the full route can be set up from the summit by hiking up the east side of the feature and utilizing a bolted anchor to reach the top of the route.

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in Outer Space Wall