Lower elevation scrambles in the front range area

[Broken Knee]

Another option would be to start in Eldo, and take a different route up Shirttail. I'm not familiar enough with Eldo to know if there's a more technical/fun route up to the ridgeline, then to Shirttail, to do the "full" ridgeline. .

Gambit is quality.

Agreed on Gambit. My favorite approach to the ridge to Green is to do the Bulge, then go up west, then north and start navigating to Shirttail. If you rope up for the Bulge, then you could swing over and do Gambit. I've never been up for soloing Gambit. You could also take the climber's access trail to Redgarden, then get on the upper West Ridge and head up to Shirttail. I've done a scramble on the SE side of Shirttail but I don't remember the details other than it being dirty and having brushy crap in gullies. You can also get around Shirttail on its west side by reversing the standard descent off the top of Shirttail up to its N ridge, then go north.

[jerseybrian]

Why would it be dangerous? Would the goal be to actually stay on rock the whole way? I guess I've never paid that much attention to that ridge so can't quite picture what it looks like. I would interested in checking it out.

Interestingly enough, it looks like there's a route description in the first edition of Roach's Flatiron guide,

http://www.wwwright.com/climbing/minion ... aments.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With an F2 rating, as well as listed on the SP page as Class 4:

http://www.summitpost.org/south-boulder ... #chapter_6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'd think that the best way to get 'er done is start at S. Mesa TH, S. Mesa to Old Mesa -> Shirttail Peak, then follow the ridgeline up? Go down Shadow and rejoin Mesa Trail.

Another option would be to start in Eldo, and take a different route up Shirttail. I'm not familiar enough with Eldo to know if there's a more technical/fun route up to the ridgeline, then to Shirttail, to do the "full" ridgeline.

Bailing out would be easy enough, just go off the west side of the ridge.

Sooo would you mind maybe highlighting those routes on that map so I can visualize a little better? And any interest in attempting it? Sounds like it could be a pretty wild scramble and I am always looking for something more extreme than the 2nd Flatiron close to home.

I went off of this http://www.summitpost.org/north-ridge-f ... ead/688709" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I headed west just before the gully they mention. I then headed north on the ridge to S Boulder Peak.

[Brian C]

...If you rope up for the Bulge...

Soloing the Bulge! Neat! Definitely something I will never experience. For a more sane way, would it be possible to scramble up the east slabs and then work north? I've never tried to connect the upper summits of Redgarden scrambling so not sure if it goes.

...I didn't have time to do Shirttail because of fading light....

Did you do the ridge in the dark??? Nice work. One of these days I'll get off my duff and check it out. The snow is for sure something that will be an obstacle for the next few months.

[handonbroward]

Interestingly enough, it looks like there's a route description in the first edition of Roach's Flatiron guide,

http://www.wwwright.com/climbing/minion ... aments.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

With an F2 rating, as well as listed on the SP page as Class 4:

http://www.summitpost.org/south-boulder ... #chapter_6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'd think that the best way to get 'er done is start at S. Mesa TH, S. Mesa to Old Mesa -> Shirttail Peak, then follow the ridgeline up? Go down Shadow and rejoin Mesa Trail.

Another option would be to start in Eldo, and take a different route up Shirttail. I'm not familiar enough with Eldo to know if there's a more technical/fun route up to the ridgeline, then to Shirttail, to do the "full" ridgeline.

Bailing out would be easy enough, just go off the west side of the ridge.

Sooo would you mind maybe highlighting those routes on that map so I can visualize a little better? And any interest in attempting it? Sounds like it could be a pretty wild scramble and I am always looking for something more extreme than the 2nd Flatiron close to home.

I went off of this http://www.summitpost.org/north-ridge-f ... ead/688709" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I headed west just before the gully they mention. I then headed north on the ridge to S Boulder Peak.[/quote]

Sweett. Thank you.

[Broken Knee]

Soloing the Bulge! Neat! Definitely something I will never experience. For a more sane way, would it be possible to scramble up the east slabs and then work north? I've never tried to connect the upper summits of Redgarden scrambling so not sure if it goes.

I'd climbed it roped enough to know it like the back of my hand, so it felt solid. It's kind of a runout lead so soloing it is somewhat logical if you're looking for a rationalization. For sure you can scramble the E slabs. There is a slightly bouldery move down low. I know this from going up to recover my climbing shoes that some idiot (me) left atop Ruper. I've heard of locals like Horan running the ridge on the upper summits but I'm guessing it's hairy.

[jerseybrian]

Did you do the ridge in the dark??? Nice work. One of these days I'll get off my duff and check it out. The snow is for sure something that will be an obstacle for the next few months.

I got to the ridge at 4 so the sun was just setting behind the divide. I was pretty rushed to get over to S Boulder because that's more familiar and I wanted to get on a trail for the dark. It took near an hour to get to S Boulder's summit.