Staunton State Park, near Golden Colorado is a jewel of a park for climbing. Formerly a ranch, the land was donated to form the park. In it is an area called Park View Dome, where there are some moderate sport routes.

Chase the Sky is a 5.7 sport route – 4 pitches, 90m (though we split it up into 5 so it felt like more). Great rock, with chicken heads all the way up. Only tricky pitch is the last one which goes up the left side of the horn at the top of the picture, but it is well protected. Next time out, I’m planning to lead this one. Truly a fun climb.

Here’s Heads High, a 5.7 sport route, 4 pitches, 110m. Really quite straightforward – the first couple of pitches are more a cardio workout than a climb. Lots of tacky rock, and chicken heads all the way up.

Heads High again. You can get a sense of how good the rock is – even the lichens were rough.

Park View Dome behind me. The smile tells you the kind of day it was. Although we were besieged by a sudden thunderstorm at the last rappel…you really don’t want to be on a mountain, bristling with metal gear, attached to metal bolts in a lighting storm.

More details at Chase the Sky and Heads High.  

Thanks again to Golden Mountain Guides for a great day out.