Cragging Report - Lumpy Ridge, Batman Pinnacle

Trip Type: Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing

Team Members: Tyler H., Dusty B.

Location: Lumpy Ridge, Rocky Mountain National Park

Route: Batman & Robin, Batman Pinnacle

Type: Trad, 4 pitches, 5.6, ~400 ft in length

Dusty and I on the summit

      This week, my co-worker and co-adventurer Dusty and I headed up to Lumpy Ridge. The climbing last week on the White Whale route drew me back. Although Dusty and I had been on a backpacking trip together (see Fairchild Loop), this would be our first rock climbing outing. On a recommendation, we were going to climb the Batman and Robin route on Batman Pinnacle. The approach was shorter than to Left Book, which would mean that we would have more time to poke around after the climb. It was another splendid day of awesome climbing at Lumpy Ridge.

Dusty beneath Batman Pinnacle, near the start of our route

      We left Boulder at 9 a.m. and headed straight for the Park. With a clearer sense of direction this time around, we arrived at the trailhead without issue. Our route, Batman and Robin was located on the Batman Pinnacle, about 1.5 miles from the trailhead. Because it was located on a rock spire, our route was very easy to find. We climbed up steep terrain and boulderfields to arrive at the base of the route.

    Dusty prepared the rope for climbing while I racked up and searched the face for a clean way up.  Batman and Robin is a traditional route which is usually four pitches in length. It moves along granite flakes to beneath a giant flake, where I set up the first anchor. From there, I belayed Dusty up and thereafter, prepare to climb the next pitch. The second pitch passed up a crack system, through a short chimney move, up to the foot of the final section of the tower. I was able to link the second and third pitches, thereby keeping the climbing speedier. I again belayed Dusty up the next pitch, while he cleaned the gear from the rock, so it could be used on the next pitch. The final pitch was composed of easy moves up a series of blocks leading to a wide summit. From there we would use two bolt anchors to rappel off into a nearby rock gully to the east. On the descent, we made the spectacular rappel from the summit. From there we were forced to make two more rappels and do some downclimbing to get back to the base of the pinnacle, and our backpacks. Despite the lengthy process, it was a fun descent in classic mountaineering style.

Me leading up pitch two.  Photo Credit: Dusty B

The rappel from the summit! Photo Credit: Dusty B

     After the climb, we scrambled around to nearby Batman Rock to scope out some other moderate multi-pitch routes. Although we didn’t have enough time to climb another, we knew where to find them when we came back. Despite getting off trail and having to scramble down a steep gully, the trip back was picturesque, passing by the McGregor Ranch and through the changing aspen forests. As ever, Lumpy was a great destination.

Looking down from belay station two.  Photo Credit: Dusty B

Rock-work of protection leading up to the summit.  Photo Credit: Dusty B