4.37 miles/2,792 vert./2:24 (1:54 up)/avg. HR 123
Up Royal Arch Trail to Sentinel Pass, Cavernous Sinus, East Slopes to East Green, Greenman
Down Greenman/NE/1st Access
Had an amazing outing with Homie today seeking out the infamous Cavernous Sinus, as described in Roach's Flatiron Classics book. Homie has been in the area several times climbing nearby rock formations, but had yet to stumble across it, so today we went looking.
After some circuitous bushwhacking and a dead end or two, we ascended a gully with small cave at the end. I crawled into the seemingly nothing of a cave and only saw a narrow vertical opening into who knows what up above between some massive chockstones (massive, like the size of a house), all seemingly supported by much smaller stones. Homie took a look and then wormed his way up through the improbable looking hole, as I volunteered to go back down and around and meet him on the upper side. I have done more challenging things in slot canyons, but I have become even more of a wimp over the years and just looking at that tight vertical opening made me feel claustrophobic.
Homie made it out the upper side with no problem and from there, we spent some time goofing around climbing on rocks and exploring all the cool formations. Eventually, we ascended a harder than it looks from below chimney with some stretchy moves and then came out on top of this really cool knife edge formation with amazing views of Green, S. Green, Bear and SoBo. From there it was an easy jaunt over to the Greenman trail and then to the very crowded summit, where we bumped into Rob and Lauri Timko.
This was certainly one of the more unique trips up Green and definitely one of the most fun. Getting out with Homie is always a great time and the unique vantage of Green and the surrounding area from the sharp fin near East Green is unrivaled.
Now I am hoping to get back and complete the trip through the cavern, although I might wear pants and longsleeves.
Entrance to the top secret cavern
This is the hole Homie slithered up (I put my hat there for scale)
Homie on the other side
Up above the cavern, Homie explores some rugged terrain
Awesome vantage of the 3rd Flatiron and town. The photos do not do it justice.
Zoom
Zoom even more
Liken' the lichen
Tada!! All of a sudden, there is the summit of Green as I have never seen it.
Bear, SoBo, S. Green
Green summit
Zoom of Green (you can see the crowd on top)
Our ascent gully (steeper than it looks)
Rob and Laurie Timko
Good bumping into you. I had just hit the top and felt like I was going to puke. Too crowded for me but serves me right for getting out late. Fantastic pictures!
ReplyDeleteDamn, bummed to have missed this! I was down in the Springs, doing some exploring on Almagre, plus my first ascent of the Incline in literally 10 years, only my 3rd or 4th time up it ever.
ReplyDeleteOff to look this up in the Roache book (which could also be called secrets of Green I guess)
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome, great shots and scenery and it looks really fun. I have to get that book and start taking advantage.
ReplyDeleteOh - and great to finally meet you in person the other day!
ReplyDeleteHey, Jeff,
ReplyDeleteConsider de-linking your Garmin data for this route...the few times I've been up through Cavernous Sinus, I've appreciated how Roach's Flatirons book (and a summitpost page describing the search for the cave) keep the location sort of mysterious....
It's fun to keep reading about your exploring!
Alex
If you can figure it out from that Garmin map, you are a wizard.
ReplyDeleteThanks for not posting the exact location! It's a great adventure finding it. (I was who wrote the report about looking for it on SP)
ReplyDelete