Cheap Date on the 1st Apron of Mt. Evans offers a striking blend of adventure, exposure, and gritty alpine trad climbing that few routes in the Front Range match for bold character. Located in the Summit Lake Cirque area, this climb demands respect and preparation. The approach weaves through rugged terrain for about 30 minutes, occasionally interrupted by lingering patches of snow that shift the route’s start depending on the season. Stand at the base, and you’ll quickly sense the climb is larger and steeper than initial glances suggest—this is rock that tests both endurance and mental grit.

Your ascent begins with a nearly 300-foot traverse from the left, moving toward a commanding left-facing dihedral. This first pitch involves some simul-climbing across low-angled slab peppered with 5.7 R moves, giving you early taste of alpine runout challenges. A single fixed pin guards a belay spot near an overlap, a reminder that protection here is limited but meaningful.

Pitch two moves you leftward into a crack system, before negotiating a runout 5.9 slab. This section invites careful foot placement and route-finding as you traverse right into a lichen-slick dihedral that leans a little loose in spots. Protection with #2 and #3 Friends becomes crucial at the semi-hanging belay, where hanging in space is as much a mental test as a physical one.

The third pitch takes you up that dihedral, past fixed wires and a steep section where careful hand placements marry with strategic camming of #3.5 and #1.5 Friends. The belay sits in a nook below a bulging roof, a natural staging area before you reach the aforementioned crux.

Pitch four is the route’s heartbeat: an unexpectedly tough sequence climbing steep crack and face features that belie the 5.7 rating posted in older guides. Climbers often find themselves wrestling moves that feel more like 5.9+ or even 5.10, where the crux is an overhanging offwidth section at nearly 14,000 feet elevation. Here, a #5 Camalot is your trusted ally—powerful armbar and heel-toe jams will save you energy as you muscle through the bulge. After this physical takedown, the climbing suddenly eases, leaving you wondering how something rated so moderate carried such bite.

From pitch five onward, you're treated to nearly 600 feet of easier alpine routes that reward with sweeping views and committed exposure. Expect a mixture of cracks and slabs, punctuated by occasional fixed gear reminders of past ascents. Top out at the summit with a full sense of accomplishment earned through sustained effort and careful protection management.

Protection calls for a broad rack from tiny Aliens to large #5 Camalots—two of the latter are advisable. Fixed gear has been placed sporadically, but reliance on your trad rack remains paramount. Bring 200-foot ropes to handle long pitches and smooth rope work.

The descent is straightforward: a combination of hiking and potential hitchhiking down the trail to the left. This allows for a relaxing, reflective end to a demanding climb that feels both alpine and adventure-packed. Approach the route with respect for its sketchy sections, alpine exposure, and variable conditions, and Cheap Date will deliver an honest, gritty experience on one of Colorado’s wildest faces.