Steve Larson - Nov 6, 2012 12:55 pm Date Climbed: Nov 2, 2012
Good, but it's not Ginger Cracks
A good climb. The hanging belays got old after a while. The descent was a drag. We did Ginger Cracks the next day and found it to be a better climb overall.
Approach was considerable. We got there around 9 am and waited for two parties. Had to stop at the beginning of pitch eight due to lack of light and fear of stuck ropes which is a major factor on this one!. We had no issues with stuck ropes because we were prudent.
haishan - Jan 18, 2011 1:08 am Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2010
frozen hands
Temps stayed below freezing on the route all day, but didn't detract from a spectacular climb.
Alika - Apr 6, 2010 9:40 am Date Climbed: Mar 24, 2010
Awesome Route
Amazing, sustained and fun, easily the best route I've done in my very young rock climbing career. Flew up it with a party of 3, we were the first party on the route, and actually put distance on the party of 2 that hopped on right behind us. Excellent day!
ClimbandBike - Dec 17, 2009 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Dec 2, 2009
Crimson
Popular route for a reason. December might not be the best time to climb....cold short day and STILL had another party on it with us. Missed the last couple pitches. Great info on the rope pulls...climbers right each time and none stuck.
PocketsOfBlue - Nov 16, 2009 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2009
Stunning
One of the 3-4 best climbs I've done, ever, period. Absolutely classic. Steep, sustained, yet remarkably accessible, with fun moves throughout.
We didn't encounter another party on the route. An epic-less ascent and descent with Brian D on a slightly chilly but beautiful November day.
Romain - Jul 3, 2009 5:47 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
Crimson Chrysalis
This has to be one of the best 4 or 5 routes I have ever climbed. Trip Report
led odd pitches and my parter tyler led the even. scary after time off the rock. didnt have any problems except for crowds, 3 parties in front and 1 behind us. fell on last pitch. all i remember is thinnish crack, put a yellow tcu, did a high step and popped off. calves too weak, thats all. overall, super fun climb
JoeAllen - Dec 1, 2008 5:29 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2008
Climb when healthy
Great day out. Dow and I ran up the route. Unfortunately we were unable to get his son-in-law on the climb. It was for the best. He was sick and the climbing would only have worsened his condition. Easy climbing. The parties we passed on the way down were moving slow due to inefficient systems.
Dow Williams - Oct 20, 2008 9:47 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2008
Crimson
3rd ascent...with Joe this time, he had never been...4 hrs to the top, but we climb a lot together....had planned on taken a new climber up, one of my son in laws, but he got sick on the approach so left him at the base and ran the thing....two other parties, neither going to make the top in the shape they were in when we saw them...surprised only one ascent on a gorgeous Sunday!
Dow Williams - May 1, 2008 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2008
Crimson Chrysalis
With Adam and Jo. So much for trying not to do repeats when good friends are in town. Adam did not make it all the way last time he tried and this was Jo's first Red Rocks trip. Went really smooth and a lot easier than I remember. High winds make any climb a grade higher and my first time the winds were obnoxious. Three parties this day, a gentleman from Africa commented that the wind played head games up there. I did not have the heart to tell him that was about as calm of a day one could ever hope for on Cloud Tower. I linked those last two pitches. You have to run it out, place no gear in the ramp and double your runner length. But if you already know both pitches, it saves some time and makes sense.
I climbed this in spring 2000 and 2002. It is deservedly popular.
atavist - Apr 2, 2008 9:27 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 2008
Fun route
Very nice day and not even crowded. We were the first people on the route and started around 9:30am. Fun route. I lead the odd pitches and Jason lead the even pitches. The sun on top felt nice.
bighornmonkey - Dec 25, 2007 8:22 am Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2006
Freakin' awesome
Party of 3....we had the route to ourselves on a sunday. Unbelievably good climbing.
We had to rap down in the dark.
Dow Williams - Apr 22, 2007 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Apr 21, 2007
Crimson Chrysalis
Finally climbed in Red Rocks, first time....did Dark Shadows Friday afternoon and Crimson yesterday....had Crimson Chrysalis to ourselves yesterday, never saw another soul, kind of shocked...even got a late start out of the campground....think it was too cold for most of the others...there were 4 parties ahead of us on Dark Shadows Fri though....not for Dow....not the serenity I am used to in the Canadian Rockies...It was windy so the descent off of Crimson was a pain....but well worth it, nice and sustained the whole way...Radek's notes are beyond the norm, better than any guidebook. (Chris's (SuperTopo) topo is on target except for pitch 3, shorter than 100') I agree with about everything Radek describes including the 4th pitch being the best, etc. Some of those later pitches are a little run out...I think Radek said of pitch 8, "questionable pro" when faced with that flaring crack...I would go so far to say no pro and just ran it out. Wind will play havoc on your ropes. This is always a windy area, one of the reasons the sandstone is actually better here, due to wind erosion/compaction....very judicious rope handling to say the least, spending a night at this elevation can be a lot colder than you think....cheers
Cookie Addict - Mar 21, 2006 12:57 am Date Climbed: Mar 16, 2006
Great Route
I and a buddy were waiting at the gat when it opened and were the first on-route – just barely. We fought the cold and wind all the way up and it took a total of 9 hours for us to ascend and rap off the route. It truly was a fantastic route. The trail there is real confusing, hike in the area beforehand. Get there very early. Bring extra layers and a pee bottle.
Steve Larson - Nov 6, 2012 12:55 pm Date Climbed: Nov 2, 2012
Good, but it's not Ginger CracksA good climb. The hanging belays got old after a while. The descent was a drag. We did Ginger Cracks the next day and found it to be a better climb overall.
rasgoat - Feb 25, 2012 9:50 am
SustainedApproach was considerable. We got there around 9 am and waited for two parties. Had to stop at the beginning of pitch eight due to lack of light and fear of stuck ropes which is a major factor on this one!. We had no issues with stuck ropes because we were prudent.
haishan - Jan 18, 2011 1:08 am Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2010
frozen handsTemps stayed below freezing on the route all day, but didn't detract from a spectacular climb.
Alika - Apr 6, 2010 9:40 am Date Climbed: Mar 24, 2010
Awesome RouteAmazing, sustained and fun, easily the best route I've done in my very young rock climbing career. Flew up it with a party of 3, we were the first party on the route, and actually put distance on the party of 2 that hopped on right behind us. Excellent day!
ClimbandBike - Dec 17, 2009 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Dec 2, 2009
CrimsonPopular route for a reason. December might not be the best time to climb....cold short day and STILL had another party on it with us. Missed the last couple pitches. Great info on the rope pulls...climbers right each time and none stuck.
PocketsOfBlue - Nov 16, 2009 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2009
StunningOne of the 3-4 best climbs I've done, ever, period. Absolutely classic. Steep, sustained, yet remarkably accessible, with fun moves throughout.
We didn't encounter another party on the route. An epic-less ascent and descent with Brian D on a slightly chilly but beautiful November day.
Romain - Jul 3, 2009 5:47 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2009
Crimson ChrysalisThis has to be one of the best 4 or 5 routes I have ever climbed. Trip Report
bfrench - Apr 30, 2009 10:01 pm
Crimson ChrysalisClimbed a few times. Great route.
Groundswell - Mar 18, 2009 4:22 pm
Looong and crowdedled odd pitches and my parter tyler led the even. scary after time off the rock. didnt have any problems except for crowds, 3 parties in front and 1 behind us. fell on last pitch. all i remember is thinnish crack, put a yellow tcu, did a high step and popped off. calves too weak, thats all. overall, super fun climb
JoeAllen - Dec 1, 2008 5:29 pm Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2008
Climb when healthyGreat day out. Dow and I ran up the route. Unfortunately we were unable to get his son-in-law on the climb. It was for the best. He was sick and the climbing would only have worsened his condition. Easy climbing. The parties we passed on the way down were moving slow due to inefficient systems.
Dow Williams - Oct 20, 2008 9:47 am Date Climbed: Oct 20, 2008
Crimson3rd ascent...with Joe this time, he had never been...4 hrs to the top, but we climb a lot together....had planned on taken a new climber up, one of my son in laws, but he got sick on the approach so left him at the base and ran the thing....two other parties, neither going to make the top in the shape they were in when we saw them...surprised only one ascent on a gorgeous Sunday!
dfrancom - Oct 18, 2008 7:28 pm
AlmostWe ran out of daylight just before the last pitch.. had the whole climb to ourselves though.. the exposure was intimidating
kevin trieu - Sep 9, 2008 1:13 am
seriously awesome!did it with bighornmonkey and shirley lam
Dow Williams - May 1, 2008 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2008
Crimson ChrysalisWith Adam and Jo. So much for trying not to do repeats when good friends are in town. Adam did not make it all the way last time he tried and this was Jo's first Red Rocks trip. Went really smooth and a lot easier than I remember. High winds make any climb a grade higher and my first time the winds were obnoxious. Three parties this day, a gentleman from Africa commented that the wind played head games up there. I did not have the heart to tell him that was about as calm of a day one could ever hope for on Cloud Tower. I linked those last two pitches. You have to run it out, place no gear in the ramp and double your runner length. But if you already know both pitches, it saves some time and makes sense.
Sam Page - Apr 20, 2008 6:59 pm
2xI climbed this in spring 2000 and 2002. It is deservedly popular.
atavist - Apr 2, 2008 9:27 pm Date Climbed: Mar 31, 2008
Fun routeVery nice day and not even crowded. We were the first people on the route and started around 9:30am. Fun route. I lead the odd pitches and Jason lead the even pitches. The sun on top felt nice.
bighornmonkey - Dec 25, 2007 8:22 am Date Climbed: Apr 7, 2006
Freakin' awesomeParty of 3....we had the route to ourselves on a sunday. Unbelievably good climbing.
We had to rap down in the dark.
Foxy Long Bottoms - Jun 20, 2007 1:54 pm Date Climbed: May 21, 2004
Loved itGreat route.
Dow Williams - Apr 22, 2007 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Apr 21, 2007
Crimson ChrysalisFinally climbed in Red Rocks, first time....did Dark Shadows Friday afternoon and Crimson yesterday....had Crimson Chrysalis to ourselves yesterday, never saw another soul, kind of shocked...even got a late start out of the campground....think it was too cold for most of the others...there were 4 parties ahead of us on Dark Shadows Fri though....not for Dow....not the serenity I am used to in the Canadian Rockies...It was windy so the descent off of Crimson was a pain....but well worth it, nice and sustained the whole way...Radek's notes are beyond the norm, better than any guidebook. (Chris's (SuperTopo) topo is on target except for pitch 3, shorter than 100') I agree with about everything Radek describes including the 4th pitch being the best, etc. Some of those later pitches are a little run out...I think Radek said of pitch 8, "questionable pro" when faced with that flaring crack...I would go so far to say no pro and just ran it out. Wind will play havoc on your ropes. This is always a windy area, one of the reasons the sandstone is actually better here, due to wind erosion/compaction....very judicious rope handling to say the least, spending a night at this elevation can be a lot colder than you think....cheers
Cookie Addict - Mar 21, 2006 12:57 am Date Climbed: Mar 16, 2006
Great RouteI and a buddy were waiting at the gat when it opened and were the first on-route – just barely. We fought the cold and wind all the way up and it took a total of 9 hours for us to ascend and rap off the route. It truly was a fantastic route. The trail there is real confusing, hike in the area beforehand. Get there very early. Bring extra layers and a pee bottle.