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.
Elevation: 12,146 ft 3,702 m
GPS: 40.2565, -105.6569
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 5,092,792 total · 21,504/month
Shared By: Leo Paik on Aug 11, 2005
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

This "area" is for alpine rock climbing in Colorado. Alpine is probably the true "Mountain" Project terrain. These routes truly lie in the mountains. This is the terrain of the alpinist, the all-arounder. Generally here, you must be comfortable in whatever the environment will throw at you.

Alpine is the home of the marmots and pikas in the warmer months. In the colder months, this is the land of the frozen. Scattered here is the terrain in which weather, exposure, season, loose rock, ice, snow, route-finding, lightning, precipitation, and altitude can dramatically affect one's experience. All these climbs involve heights of at least 8,000 feet and are above treeline. With these factors comes increased risks but potential for increased rewards and memories that can last a lifetime.

Getting There Suggest change

These climbs cover the state from the Crestones, the Sangre de Cristos, the Mosquito Range, the Collegiates, the Sawatch, the San Juans, the Gores, the Front Range, the Elks, the Indian Peaks, the Mummy Range, the Never Summer Mountains, Rocky Mountain National Park or whatever range you wish to include. Look high and you will find them. You will drive but then you will hike, since most all of these will require some extended approaches. Some will require overnight trips. Nearly all will have season considerations for the majority of climbers.

Bats - conservation

Suggest change

See a bat on a route, give a shout. Bats have been reported as high as 12,500'. Climbers for Bat Conservation is working with climbers to understand bat ecology and why bats choose certain cracks and flakes. If you see bats, and want to tell them, here is their email (climbersforbats@colostate.edu) and their website ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).

Climbers for Bat Conservation is a collaboration between climbers, bat biologists, and land managers to understand where bats roost and where large populations may reside. They are interested in finding bats because a new disease, called white-nose syndrome ( whitenosesyndrome.org/), has killed millions of bats in North America. This collaboration has identified bat roosts throughout the U.S., and as far away as Norway and Bulgaria. CBC was developed by biologists who climb and they are advocates for climbing access and bat conservation. If you see bats while climbing, please let them know by emailing them at climbersforbats@colostate.edu, or visiting their website to learn more ( climbersforbats.colostate.edu/).

Rob Schorr

Zoologist, Colorado Natural Heritage Program ( sites.warnercnr.colostate.e…)

Director, Climbers for Bat Conservation

Robert.schorr@colostate.edu 

1,359 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: Alpine Rock Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at Alpine Rock

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V5 6C
 191
Autobot
Boulder, Alpine
V5 6C
 281
The Kind (originally In Your Fac…
Boulder, Alpine
V7 7A+
 198
Tommy's Arete
Boulder, Alpine
5.0 2- 4 I 6 MM 1c
 161
Little Bear-Blanca Traverse
Trad, Alpine
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c R
 182
Wham Ridge
Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 409
Northeast Ridge
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 286
Ellingwood Ledges
Trad, Alpine
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 760
South Face
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 501
Culp-Bossier
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 666
Casual Route
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 341
The Barb
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 192
The Flying Buttress
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 313
Pervertical Sanctuary
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 135
D7
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 133
Cary Granite
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Autobot RMNP - Rock > … > Lower Chaos Canyon > Gobot Boulder
 191
V5 6C Boulder, Alpine
The Kind (originally In You… RMNP - Rock > … > Tyndall Gorge > Emerald Lake
 281
V5 6C Boulder, Alpine
Tommy's Arete RMNP - Rock > … > Lower Chaos Canyon > Automator Boulder
 198
V7 7A+ Boulder, Alpine
Little Bear-Blanca Traverse Sangre de Crist… > Blanca Peak
 161
5.0 2- 4 I 6 MM 1c Trad, Alpine
Wham Ridge San Juans > Grenadiers > Vestal Peak
 182
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c R Trad, Alpine 10 pitches
Northeast Ridge RMNP - Rock > Sharkstooth
 409
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Ellingwood Ledges Sangre de Crist… > Crestones
 286
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Alpine
South Face RMNP - Rock > Petit Grepon
 760
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Culp-Bossier RMNP - Rock > Hallett Peak
 501
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Casual Route RMNP - Rock > Long's Peak > Diamond
 666
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
The Barb RMNP - Rock > Glacier Gorge > Spearhead
 341
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
The Flying Buttress RMNP - Rock > Mt Meeker
 192
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Pervertical Sanctuary RMNP - Rock > Long's Peak > Diamond
 313
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
D7 RMNP - Rock > Long's Peak > Diamond
 135
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Cary Granite Mt Blue Sky (fo… > Black Wall
 133
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
More Classic Climbs in Alpine Rock »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading