Free Solo in Eldorado Canyon -- West Crack, 5.3

A November summit of Eldorado Canyon's West Crack.
On the formation dubbed "The Whale's Tail", this aesthetic line runs up the west face of the Tail to a ridge-line summit.
In finding this route, I had often scrambled the opening moves of the crack, thinking how fun it'd be to just go to the top. Not thinking it'd be worth of day of finding a partner for it and hauling the gear over, and not particularly fond of soloing, I stuck with the opening moves for some time, until one day, I opted to go just a bit higher. The crack is just asking to be climbed, so what's a few more moves, and soon enough I was closer to the summit than you were to the ground. I summited, then
sat on the ridge and watched the climbers on the Bastille, Wind tower, and East Slabs on Redgarden as the sun lowered, before descending the same route.
#freesolo #rockclimbing #climbing #backcountry #outdoors #mountains #rockymountains

[@kathyjackson3751]

I kept flinching thinking you’d grab a birds nest tucked away. Great job

[@imahappyboy1049]

nice job

[@AccessAlpine]

Thank you!

[@paeve362]

as an avid flatiron climber who frequents eldo, this looks rad and im def gunna have to climb it this summer. What does the descent look like?

[@TheSubieFan]

Honestly my money goes for soloing Bastille in eldo so close so chill

[@stephenfreas4056]

There is an exposed down climb on the backside, or you can down climb the route. If you have soloed the first Flatiron downclimb, this is easier.

[@paeve362]

sick yeah i didnt have any issues with any of the flatiron downclimbs. Stoked to get on this!@@stephenfreas4056

[@OutlawGuitarSlinger]

Mythos eco?

[@haholaer4058]

i miss the old ones, rubber seems off now

[@user-zn4zr6qe3s]

Easy route, VS maybe, only the exposure makes it seem harder

[@garyspaid3444]

User show us how's its done

[@haholaer4058]

cool observation bro, waiting for your free solo upload