Colorado National Monument

Location Description

81 photos

Ute canyon in Colorado National Monument
At an overlook for Ute Canyon.
Hiking in Ute canyon.
Separation between Fallen Rock (more like a tower) and...
Big crack.
John working on some off-width.
Climb over this way called 99 Feet Of Joy.
Big crack on Fallen Rock.
Monica climbing either Mojito or Mai Tai.
Fallen Rock.
Monica with some precambrian sandstone in the...
I think this is the Astrobunny climbing area of Ute Canyon.
Sun starts to come out on our hike.
Formations viewed from the rim trail of Colorado...
Looking northwest at the main formations of the park.
Monica being silly.
And more serious.
Independence Monument. In 1911, the park's caretaker...
Independence Monument, from the other side. John Otto on...
Another formation in Independence National Monument.
Monica contemplating tomorrow's climb.
Pondering the yonder.
The route goes up the shadowy part toward the middle,...
Monica at one of the observation platforms.
Big horn sheep! We saw a herd of at least 20.
Zoomed in a bit.
A balanced rock near the north entrance to the park.
Closer shot of a big horn sheep.
On Sunday morning, Monica and I headed into the park to...
Hiking in was a pleasant 45-60 minute hike through...
More big horn sheep, if you can spot them. Wondering if...
Independence Monument.
Monica pointing out our objective once again.
Independence Monument is long and flat. From this angle...
Monica, belaying me for the first (mostly 4th class)...
It's a popular destination. Looking up at a few climbers...
John being a goofball on lunchbox ledge. We had about...
View from lunchbox ledge of a pair of climbers on pitch 4.
John, and Independence Monument... at the end of pitch 2...
Climber with a large pack struggles with the final 5.9+...
Here comes Monica, top of the 3rd pitch. Note the...
From the top of the 4th pitch, looking down at Monica...
Similar to the above.
Monica, climbing the "chipped" stairs in a low-angle but...
On the summit of Independence Monument. A group of...
Monica, signing the summit register (kept in a somewhat...
Summit register at the top of Independence Monument.
Monica, standing in a pothole. A few actually had water...
Kissing Couple (center) and a few other formations in...
Formation due north of Independence Monument. Think I...
As seemed to become a feature of this trip, once on top...
Posing for a photo on the north edge of the summit.
Aforementioned flagpole and various equipment for the...
Waiting our turn to descend. There had to be close to 10...
Still enjoying the view and the weather.
Desert pothole, filled with several inches of water on...
Monica, downclimbing 10 feet to the final anchor while I...
Monica on rappel from (10 feet below) the summit.
2 ropes tied together brought us back to the base of...
Rappelling from the top of the second pitch. 2 unknown...
Monolith Spire, a fully detached spire from the canyon...
Monolith Spire was really calling our siren song. I...
John from the belay ledge/stance at the top of Pitch 1...
John, attempting an unknown off-width climb at the back...
Got a good leg jam.
View of another hand/fist crack on Monolith Spire.
Monica attempting the start.
Monolith Spire, also known as The Catchers Mitt, for the...
Another climbing area back toward the beginning of the...
Monica and the base of a couple splitter hand cracks.
Monica on the approach to some other cracks.
Climbing a bombay offwidth to fist crack on our way out...
Sunset over Colorado National Monument Sunday night....
Monica rappelling down our last route of the day.
It's a snake! On the hike out from Colorado National Monument.
Rock formations on the hike out.
John bouldering on a short hand crack.
Going for the top (this part was easy).
With the moon.
Cliff band at sunset.
Some slabs along the approach.