Choss Bubbles offers an unfiltered, raw alpine climbing experience on the daunting North Face of Rolling Mountain, set deep within Colorado’s San Juans. This route demands respect right from the start, beginning with a striking 500-foot slab of solid granite where clean, technical climbing sets the tone. Here, the rock feels alive beneath your fingers, its texture sharp but inviting—an honest welcome for climbers comfortable on traditional gear. The second pitch stands out with a 5.9 crux, a crisp challenge amid the generally moderate 5.6 to 5.7 terrain. This slab climbing tests balance and footwork, rewarding those who move with cadence and confidence.

Once the slab pitches conclude, the path sharpens into something less predictable. The terrain turns loose: a stretch of class 3 scrambling filled with gravel and unstable holds leads you into the infamous "choss bubbles"—a unique formation of bubbly granite that seems to shift underfoot. The final pitch on this section rates 5.7R, demanding caution. Rock protection is sparse and placements feel hesitant, echoing the unstable surface composed of tiny, marble-like grains. This section tells you clearly that comfort zones should shrink here.

Beyond the choss bubbles lies a gauntlet of further loose terrain—400 to 500 feet of careful class 3 and 4 scrambling, where the mountain’s raw nature pushes seriousness and trust between climbers. Simul-climbing this portion is a prudent approach as the footing breeds caution and the rock’s unwillingness to hold solidly leaves no room for slips. Despite the frustration expressed by many who tackle this route, reaching the summit is its own reward: a remote perch high above the San Juans, where the harsh environment exposes the climber to wild alpine forces.

Choss Bubbles stands out not for polished perfection but for its gritty character—equal parts adventure and challenge. It's as much a mental game as it is a physical one, testing a climber’s patience and commitment. Those prepared to handle loose rock, variable protection, and the exposed alpine setting will find a climb that is rare in its honesty and depth. Gear-wise, a full rack from half-inch to two inches, plus stoppers, provides the necessary toolkit to protect against the route’s pockets of uncertainty. Expect to spend steady time on the approach and descent since the mountain’s ruggedness extends beyond just the climbing itself.

This route is a snapshot of high alpine trad climbing where the mountain pushes back at every turn. Its layered challenges—from technical slab to loose, uneasy scrambling—shape an experience that demands both respect for the rock and readiness for wilderness nuances. For climbers drawn to bold, unrefined alpine lines with a pronounced edge of unpredictability, Choss Bubbles delivers an unforgettable journey to a remote Colorado summit.