Iconic Colorado Routes

[Eli Boardman]

How is Kelso Ridge considered one of the top-10? I did it in a snowstorm this August, and besides the fun but quite short knife-edge, nothing really made it stand out. I mean, even the Keyhole route on Longs was more interesting. (Not that I am saying that the Keyhole should be one of the top-10...)

[justiner]

How is Kelso Ridge considered one of the top-10? I did it in a snowstorm this August, and besides the fun but quite short knife-edge, nothing really made it stand out. I mean, even the Keyhole route on Longs was more interesting. (Not that I am saying that the Keyhole should be one of the top-10...)

Try it out in the Winter.

[Monster5]

Agreed with Justin. Kelso is a right of scrambling passage, for better or worse, in summer. It is also a near right of passage in winter too.

Ellingwood Ridge and Ellingwood Arete were posted. The arete was made famous due to the 50 classic list, among other reasons, but I don't think it stacks up to RMNP rock routes from purely a climbing standpoint. I haven't done Ellingwood Ridge but it seems to hold a lot of sway too.

Opening up to harder rock climbing routes is a bit tricky. Heck, Eldo has a world famous route at just about every grade though "world famous" might be limit to the two dhgold mentioned.

Yes, totally forgot Dreamweaver, Martha, and even Dragon's Tail. Perhaps Skywalker to the Arapaho traverse too. I like the James coulies and Bancroft, but I wouldn't throw them in the iconic range.

[justiner]

My criteria would def. be base to summit mountaineering routes, so something like Naked Edge would not make the list, although it would make the, "Iconic Trad Climbing routes" list... but so would Bastille. I would want the entire climb to be weighed in, from TH to summit.

So, in no particular order:

Snowmass, East Slope: You've got the hike in, the camping spots by the lake, the lake itself, the solitude, and a proud summit. Climbing is relatively easy, and there's great opportunities for a wild glissade down.

Longs Peak, Kieners. Lambslide seems pretty unique to Colorado 14ers, as does Broadway, which can fight over being the real star of this route. The rock
portions are fine, but its the singularity of the Diamond Step that's worth the haul. Roundtrip down the North Face is a necessity.

If conditions are right, Notch Couloir is out of this world. Traversing the snow that builds up on Broadway was probably my favorite experience of this year in the mountains. This route legitimately feels like mountaineering. Notch felt secure... except for that huge dropoff at the "bottom". Pucker Factor of ten crossing that thing!

Little Bear-Blanca Traverse (extra credit, Ellingwood Point). Good-enough rock, and some of the best positions in the CO mountains. Hands-down the best legitimate "traverse" of the 4 great traverses. You gotta earn just getting to the start of the climb, via Como Rd, so you might as well tag Ellingwood while you're out. n

Certainly others, but I don't have any first-hand experience with them. I would think Jagged is a super-classic, as would Ellingwood Ledges. Lots of routes on Longs, but not as varied as Kieners/Notch. My runner up would be something like doing Keyhole Ridge up, to Stepladder/Gorrels across and find your favorite way down from there (loft if it's in, Meeker ridge down Iron Gates?)

There's other iconic Colorado hikes that are far less technical but still worth doing for the complete experience from TH to the summit.

[SchralpTheGnar]

Ellingwood arete is such a classic line, good enough for the touch 14era cover shot, but I would agree the climbing isn't that great, but the fact that the best pitch has such sick exposure makes it an iconic classic.

As for the definition of mountaineering I would agree that the route has to be on a mountain,anything in eldo doesn't count, I'm fine with calling the diamond mountaineering routes

[mojah]

Ok, I'll bite and slightly derail the thread. But for ski routes. I'll only list three or I'll go on and on.

Landry Line, Pyramid
Cross Coulior, Holy Cross
Stammberger Ledges, North Maroon

Mostly for their reliable snow cover and high visibility from lift served terrain. Plenty of other great lines out there, but I do believe these would be the 3 "iconic" ski descents

[TallGrass]

Little Bear-Blanca Traverse ... You gotta earn just getting to the start of the climb, via Como Rd.

Nope. You can do it from South Zapata Lakes TH or Lindsey/Lily Lake TH. I've done all the Centennials there and never have been as far south as Lake Como nor the road south from there.

[Tory Wells]

Obviously not a mountaineering route, but the Barr Trail on Pikes has been around for over 100 years, is a designated National Recreation Trail, and has a world-famous foot race held on it. It is a Colorado icon. It's on par with the Mount Whitney Trail for history and world renown, probably even more so.

As a side note, I've always been non-plussed by the folks who tick Pikes off the 14er list without doing the Barr. Barr is a true test of your fitness--Crags is reducing a big sucker of a mountain to a mole hill. A cheat, IMO. But that's just my opinion, I'm sure plenty others will disagree. Flame away.

Longs Peak, the Bells, and Pikes Peak are the mountains most well known to the rest of the world.

[painless4u2]

As a side note, I've always been non-plussed by the folks who tick Pikes off the 14er list without doing the Barr. Barr is a true test of your fitness--Crags is reducing a big sucker of a mountain to a mole hill. A cheat, IMO. But that's just my opinion, I'm sure plenty others will disagree.

Yes, I disagree. Crags is 4300' elevation gain with 14 mile round trip at a higher Class rating than Barr. I would not consider that "cheating". Sorry you are "non-plussed" about that. Barr snobbery, perhaps?

[DArcyS]

Lizard Head? Certainly an iconic 13er and the bane of many who would like to climb all the 13ers, but then there's this stupid peak staring them in the face.

[SnowAlien]

As a side note, I've always been non-plussed by the folks who tick Pikes off the 14er list without doing the Barr. Barr is a true test of your fitness--Crags is reducing a big sucker of a mountain to a mole hill. A cheat, IMO. But that's just my opinion, I'm sure plenty others will disagree.

Yes, I disagree. Crags is 4300' elevation gain with 14 mile round trip at a higher Class rating than Barr. I would not consider that "cheating". Sorry you are "non-plussed" about that. Barr snobbery, perhaps?

Not to mention there are real mountaineering routes on Pikes requiring ropes and tools as well as ski routes. Gimme Railroad or Y colour any day over Barr or Crags.
https://www.mountainproject.com/v/pikes-peak/105744555" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kaiman]

As a side note, I've always been non-plussed by the folks who tick Pikes off the 14er list without doing the Barr. Barr is a true test of your fitness--Crags is reducing a big sucker of a mountain to a mole hill. A cheat, IMO. But that's just my opinion, I'm sure plenty others will disagree. Flame away.

Try Crags on a mtn bike.