FAQ and threads for those just starting to hike the Colorado 14ers.
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LarryM wrote: I'm looking for advice about "beginner" class 3 routes on 13ers or 14ers (or even lower peaks for practice), with minimum exposure, and preferably reasonably close to Denver. Any advice?
Aside from what's already been mentioned:
Hagar/Citadel
Tenmile/3/4/5
Audubon (SE ridge)
To recognize the beauty in sadness, without playing host to the pain...
- Under the Sun, "Reflections"
Just a thought, but maybe try some class 3 exposure on a class 2 trail and get a little more comfortable with the exposure on terrain that doesn't require 3 points of contact. Something like Missouri, then maybe Castle for example. This was how I transitioned and when I did finally do a true class 3 "Lindsey's NW Ridge" I was unaffected by the exposure.
Definitely a good call to wait on Wetterhorn until you are more comfortable with exposure. Like others have said, it is like climbing a ladder; what they fail to mention is that ladder feels like it is on the side of skyscraper.
I felt Kelso Ridge was much tamer than expected and it doesn't require downclimbing (which is huge)
SchralpTheGnar wrote:The op asks about scrambles close to denver, class 3
With minimal exposure and we are now talking about whether or not the final section of wetter horn is truly exposed or not. Fortunately conversations with my 5 year old make this seem perfectly normal.
For the op if recommend kelso ridge ,
Nice easy class. 3 with minimal exposures, also check
Out east ridge in boerdstdt
For non alpine check out the flat irons
Regarding the Flatirons - a kind of embarrassing question. Embarrassing because I live in Boulder & have spent countless hours hiking the trails near and around the Flatirons. But I don't do any technical climbing (obviously given my original question) and I had no idea that there were non-technical options on the Flatirons. Hence the question: where on the Flatirons can I safely explore some class 3 terrain?
LarryM wrote:Regarding the Flatirons - a kind of embarrassing question. Embarrassing because I live in Boulder & have spent countless hours hiking the trails near and around the Flatirons. But I don't do any technical climbing (obviously given my original question) and I had no idea that there were non-technical options on the Flatirons. Hence the question: where on the Flatirons can I safely explore some class 3 terrain?
Not much that I know of on the Flatirons themselves, but in that area there is some. The scramble up to Mallory Cave is good. There is a lot of terrain on Dinosaur Mountain that one can scramble on. The Nebel Horn has a class 3 route to the top once it is open. The easiest route I know of on the Flatirons themselves is Freeway on the Second Flatiron. While it has some class 3 sections that are great fun, there is definitely some easy class 4/5 slab stuff at the start that makes it inappropriate for what you want.
It's funny - I've done tons of scrambling in the Flatirons but can't answer this question. It's the 4th & 5th class routes that excite scrambling interest. Roach lists a couple options for class 3 routes near Mallory Cave. Both sound like a fun combo of route finding, hiking & scrambling. They are Porch Alley and "Free Shot" on Der Freischutz.
The Front Porch west of NCAR has a class 3-4 route. The North East ridge. You can either use the dirty gulley or go as far north as seems to make sense and ascend.
Also I noticed no one mentioned the East Ridge on Bierstadt. You get the "where did you come from?" comments from people who came up the standard route.
vandy wrote:The scramble up to Mallory Cave is good.
Last I saw, this was closed indefinitely, but would be interesting if that's no longer the case.
The cave itself is closed. I think the scramble to it is open. I should know this, actually, since I do the trail all of the time (but have until now avoided the final scramble).
Thanks again all for the advice. Most of this, of course, will need to wait a couple of months. Regarding the flatirons, in addition to the above suggestions I've done a little more research of my own. Unfortunately, most of the best class 3 stuff is not available until after July 31 because of raptor closures. One exception which I will do soon (I would have done Sunday but for the rain) - not technically the Flatirons - is Shirttail Peak, apparently there is a class 3 route from the Eldorado Canyon trail.
LarryM wrote:The cave itself is closed. I think the scramble to it is open.
The last time I was up there was (I think) last summer or fall, and recall the closure being just a little above the Der Zerkle climbing area. I don't recall anything resembling 3rd class on any portions of the opened trail, though there should be plenty on the plethora of small flatirons scattered about (just be careful, as the boundary between 3rd and 4th and 5th is not always that clear on those rocks).
