Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

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enoki
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Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by enoki »

Tried searching the forums but didn't find much.

Do people have favorite class 3/4 routes near CS (say, within an hours drive)? Hoping to get some lower practice in during the snowier months.

Stuff I'm aware of:
Tenney Crags - feel like it was some class 2+ / easy class 3 via the route we took. Plenty to play around with up there.
Cutler from the east - have seen people do this on Strava, but looks spooky to me and have been unable to find beta.


Thanks!
marksilas
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by marksilas »

Eleven Mile Canyon south of Lake George. No "peaks", but plenty of rocks to play on.
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Been_Jammin
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by Been_Jammin »

The South Ridge of Kindergarten Rock (aka Grey Rock) in GoG is a really fun class four scramble. Mountain project has the beta. Easy and short way to top out on GoG's high point... and flex on all the tourists.
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glenmiz
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by glenmiz »

Check Lists of John; lot's of information on sub 13k peaks. You may have to page through the peaks but most have class ratings.
Aim high to end high
enoki
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by enoki »

glenmiz wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:27 am Check Lists of John; lot's of information on sub 13k peaks. You may have to page through the peaks but most have class ratings.
Ah sweet have a LoJ account but haven't really dug into the info on there. Good call-out!

Also thanks to others. Will check these recs out!
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polar
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by polar »

Been_Jammin wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:31 am The South Ridge of Kindergarten Rock (aka Grey Rock) in GoG is a really fun class four scramble. Mountain project has the beta. Easy and short way to top out on GoG's high point... and flex on all the tourists.
Keep in mind that scrambling is actually not allowed in GoG. The route you mentioned is used as descent for rock climbing, even the comments on Mountain Project mentioned you shouldn't try to scramble without rock climbing gear.

https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/webfo ... ing-permit
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Screenshot 2021-09-21 113009.png (25.86 KiB) Viewed 2512 times
"Getting to the bottom, OPTIONAL. Getting to the top, MANDATORY!" - The Wisest Trail Sign
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Been_Jammin
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by Been_Jammin »

polar wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:31 am
Been_Jammin wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:31 am The South Ridge of Kindergarten Rock (aka Grey Rock) in GoG is a really fun class four scramble. Mountain project has the beta. Easy and short way to top out on GoG's high point... and flex on all the tourists.
Keep in mind that scrambling is actually not allowed in GoG. The route you mentioned is used as descent for rock climbing, even the comments on Mountain Project mentioned you shouldn't try to scramble without rock climbing gear.

https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/webfo ... ing-permit

Screenshot 2021-09-21 112949.png
Screenshot 2021-09-21 113009.png
Thanks Dad (or Mom) for telling me information I already know. I scramble the route with a rope and harness... which comes in handy for rappelling the slabs at the bottom on the way down. You are a gate keeping tool... cheers.
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polar
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by polar »

Been_Jammin wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:57 am Thanks Dad (or Mom) for telling me information I already know. I scramble the route with a rope and harness... which comes in handy for rappelling the slabs at the bottom on the way down. You are a gate keeping tool... cheers.
Wow... well, this gate keeping tool just wanted the OP to have all the information, so they don't go out to GoG and scramble around without bringing their rope and harness along.
"Getting to the bottom, OPTIONAL. Getting to the top, MANDATORY!" - The Wisest Trail Sign
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espressoself
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by espressoself »

enoki wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:46 am Ah sweet have a LoJ account but haven't really dug into the info on there. Good call-out!

Also thanks to others. Will check these recs out!
You maybe know this already, but the map feature on LoJ is especially useful for this. Tools and Maps > Full Screen Map. Enter your coordinates, and then hit "Add YDS Colors" on the bottom right:
Screenshot 2021-09-21 120401.png
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12ersRule
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by 12ersRule »

polar wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:02 pm
Been_Jammin wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:57 am Thanks Dad (or Mom) for telling me information I already know. I scramble the route with a rope and harness... which comes in handy for rappelling the slabs at the bottom on the way down. You are a gate keeping tool... cheers.
Wow... well, this gate keeping tool just wanted the OP to have all the information, so they don't go out to GoG and scramble around without bringing their rope and harness along.
Haha, Gatekeeper of the Gods.

Where's Bdloftin? He probably has a ton of CoSprings info.
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Been_Jammin
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by Been_Jammin »

polar wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:02 pm
Been_Jammin wrote: Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:57 am Thanks Dad (or Mom) for telling me information I already know. I scramble the route with a rope and harness... which comes in handy for rappelling the slabs at the bottom on the way down. You are a gate keeping tool... cheers.
Wow... well, this gate keeping tool just wanted the OP to have all the information, so they don't go out to GoG and scramble around without bringing their rope and harness along.
Touché. I was hangry. My Bad. Don't forum on an empty stomach.
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bdloftin77
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Re: Class 3/4 near Colorado Springs?

Post by bdloftin77 »

Here I am! I'll send some of my favorites. Trip reports attached to these peaks are very helpful.

Shorter:
Mt Vigil: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/3120 (One of my favorites, and where I got engaged. Class 3 route wraps around to the east, then south, then west, then north up the ridge. Class 5 route with only a couple extremely exposed (but fun) moves is shorter, going straight to the ridge from the north. See my trip reports on LoJ. On Bear Trap Ranch, but they allow hikers)
San Luis Peak: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/2830 (Accessed either from Bear Trap Ranch - faint trail all the way - or a bushwhack from Gold Camp Road. Cool summit and great views)
"The Whale": https://listsofjohn.com/peak/212353 (Red Rocks Park. Easiest way I've found is from its saddle/rock cut to the south, though there might be others)
St Peters Dome: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/3421 (Good trail at first, then peters out. There's a rope to climb up a section if you go directly westward, otherwise if you contour and bushwhack around south/west is slightly easier climbing. Contour to the north/west for class 3/4 climbing. Good views of the Springs)

Medium Distance:
"Cap Rock": https://listsofjohn.com/peak/179737 (Hidden away west of Palmer Lake. Summit is only class 2, but there's plenty of scrambling as you weave your way through huge boulders along a faint path. Gpx highly recommended. Many other rocks you could explore nearby)
"Pangborn's Pinnacle": https://listsofjohn.com/peak/214896 (Near The Crags. One of my new favorites! fun scrambling at the top and great views. Huge dropoff. I'll post a TR soon with gpx. On the scanned LoJ map, from Fourmile Creek either trail to the right will go. First one on the right is faint and follows a ridge at first, then is more visible before joining the second. Second one to the right is very steep, follows steep vegetation-free pine needle slopes to the east of the small creek going up the drainage)
"Eagles Nest" and "Mt Crest Crags": https://listsofjohn.com/peak/218201 ; https://listsofjohn.com/peak/218200 (Above the Incline. Fun rocky summits with good views, especially Mt Crest Crags)
"Sentinel Rock": https://listsofjohn.com/peak/214939 (Very cool rock and views. Can access from Palmer Trail. Faint climbers path, then bushwhacking the rest of the way - or you can bushwhack directly up the steep, sometimes slippery slope from the east. If you take the Palmer Trail, where the trail takes its first sharp right over a drainage, there might be a climbers trail that either goes to the rocks, or connects to the faint spur that I took later on. I haven't explored this climbers trail, below "Scout Camp" on the scanned LoJ map, yet.)
"Barney's Dome": https://listsofjohn.com/peak/4079 (I did a long loop via Hwy 24, Longs Ranch Rd, trail going west from Longs Ranch Rd to near Barney's Dome (wouldn't recommend dragging a bike along this part), trail to Heizer's trail, Heizer's trail up and over Cascade Mtn, Hwy 24. However.. if you have a Pikes Peak atlas, it looks like there's a trail to the top from the northeast? Haven't investigated that yet. Might also be easiest to just go up/over Cascade Mtn via Heizer trail for the approach. Views at the top are very cool.)
Sentinel Point: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/1277 (Likely a ranked summit. Some scrambling up near the top).

Longer:
Grandview Rock: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/3699 (A spur off the Barr trail south of Rocky Mountain heads SW toward Ruxton Park/Hell Gate/Sheep and Marys Mountains. Then a bushwhack up a steep slope, and class 3 at the top of the outcrop. Decent views.)
"Montes View Rockpile": https://listsofjohn.com/peak/3164 (Highly recommend. Super views in all directions, and fun scrambling (especially if you ascend or descend from the west. Ascending/descending from the east might be the easiest way to get to the crux at the top. Can approach from Barr Trail, near Barr Camp).
Marys Mountain: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/3300 (Class 2, but very cool rocky outcrop at the top with good views. Can take Grandview Rock approach).

Off Rampart Range Road:
9343: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/3765 (Short approach, fun scramble, good views.)
Storm Peak: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/3928 (Some scrambling and a short class 4 crux. Good views)

Haven't done these four below, but look fun. (still off Rampart Range Road)
Parachute Rock: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/168472 (Near 9343).
Vicodin Rock: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/168471 (Unsure of difficulty - could be class 5)
Bull Dog Dome: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/168470 (Unsure of difficulty - could be class 5)
Scorpio Dome: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/168469 (Unsure of difficulty - could be class 5)

Also highly recommend - some of my favorites (south of Florissant)
9112 and Dome Rock: https://listsofjohn.com/peak/4802 ; https://listsofjohn.com/peak/4095 (Super cool rock formations and good views. Like a Yosemite in Colorado).

Of all the above, my top favorites would be Mt. Vigil, San Luis Peak, Pangborn's Pinnacle, Eagles Nest/Mt Crest Crags, Sentinel Rock, Montes View Rockpile, Barney's Dome, and 9112/Dome Rock.
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