Eldorado Canyon (2)
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• Statistics:
  • Date Hiked:  October 23, 2009
  • Miles Hiked:  2.0
  • Elevation Gain:  1,100'
  • Hiking Partner(s):  Mark Cushman
• Description:

  • With a lack of climbable ice in the backcountry, I decided to go rock climbing instead.  Mark offered to take me up Rewritten, a moderate classic route in Eldorado Canyon.  I dropped my kids off at the bus stop with lots of snow on the ground in Highlands Ranch (CO) and wasn't sure what conditions were like near Boulder (CO).  I picked Mark up around 9:00 am and we made our way to the canyon.  When we reached the base of the route, one party was just starting up Rewritten and another was in line after them.  Mark made a few suggestions on what we could climb instead when I opened my mouth and said, "Let's just do the Yellow Spur."

  • I think Mark was somewhat surprised considering I had only been out rock climbing twice in the last two months and was looking for something fairly mellow for the day.  The Yellow Spur (5.9) is a solid two grades harder than Rewritten (5.7), and we were in Eldo.  Nevertheless, he agreed to lead for the day and we were off.  Or at least Mark was.  Mark climbed confidently all day and was cooler than the other side of the pillow.  I, on the other hand, was a picture perfect display of flailing and thrashing about.  Mark actually linked a couple of pitches together and we were able to top out after four rope lengths.  I grabbed gear on all but the easiest pitch and really had no right being on this route.  Oh well, who cares.  At least I can say I aided one of the most popular routes in Eldorado Canyon!  Thanks again Mark for guiding me for the day.

• Maps:
  • No map available.
• Photographs:
  • Mark on the traverse at the start of The Yellow Spur.
  • Mark higher up on our first pitch of climbing.
  • Mark starting out on the second pitch.
  • A better look at most of the second pitch.
  • The easy start to our third pitch.
  • We ran into Grizzly Adams on the route.  Oh wait, that's Mark.
  • James hanging out at belay.
  • Looking down our third pitch.  You can barely see me coming around the corner after a hand traverse.
  • James on the third pitch.
  • We didn't get any photos of the crux fourth pitch, but here I am making my way up unprotectable arete.
  • I was fairly relieved to have made it up the route despite having earned absolutely no style points.
  • A climber near the top of Rewritten.  We actually topped out on The Yellow Spur before the first party on Rewritten finished their climb.
  • A close up of the Rewritten climber.
  • The upper section of the Redgarden Wall in Eldorado Canyon.
  • Tower One of the Redgarden Wall.

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