"Dice Game challenges climbers with a bold single-pitch trad route featuring a daring wide crack and a delicate slab festooned with fragile crystals. This 50-foot line demands careful protection and steady nerves amid Rampart Range’s rugged landscape."
Dice Game offers a concise yet striking trad climbing experience tucked into the stark terrain of Colorado's Rampart Range. The route unfolds over a 50-foot single pitch where raw nature challenges your finesse and composure. Your journey begins with a commanding wide crack that pulls you away from solid ground onto a small ledge perched above a deep chimney—a void that seems to dare your every move. Balancing on the edge requires steady footwork and respect for the spaces between holds. From the ledge, a hand crack ascends a slab where cuboidal crystals cling precariously to the rock face. These fragile mineral outcrops add an unpredictable character to the climb, forcing climbers to test their judgment and sensitivity with gear placements.
The climax arrives as you negotiate the slab’s natural rhythm, moving toward a saddle that offers relief and a sling wrapped around a miniature spire where you can set up a reliable belay. This technical move, where trust in the rock’s integrity is tested, is the origin of the route’s name—a gamble of strength and awareness. Descent is equally careful; rappelling from the summit requires an arborist’s ingenuity to ensure the sling can be retrieved and rappel safely accomplished.
Practical details make the difference here: the approach follows a well-established path near Rampart Range Road and South Platte, with GPS coordinates 38.92859, -104.95279 helping you zero in on this hidden gem. Though short, Dice Game demands a solid trad rack, though minimal—mainly a single set of nuts will suffice. This climb offers an excellent introduction to finger and hand crack technique with a slab finish that invites calculated risk-taking. Expect sharp edges, stable rock except for the brittle crystals, and an exposure that rewards steady nerves. Early morning or late afternoon ascents provide ideal lighting and cooler temperatures, avoiding peak sun glare on the slab.
Prepare for the subtle complexities of compact crack climbing with minimal protection and trust the environment as you go—this isn’t a route for rushed attempts or loose judgment. The quiet wilderness of Rampart Range amplifies each move, the rock’s textures telling stories of ancient geologic shifts and modern climbers’ resolve. Dice Game delivers honest trad climbing with an edge of unpredictability for those who approach with skill and respect.
Beware of loose cuboidal crystals on the slab—these can break unexpectedly and cause falls. Test every placement and avoid overloading holds near the ledge above the chimney. The rappel requires precise rigging, so double-check anchor integrity before descent.
Approach early or late to avoid strong sun on the slab.
Use finger and hand-sized nuts for secure pro placements.
Take care around loose crystal sections—test placements thoroughly.
Rappel requires an arborist technique to retrieve the sling; plan accordingly.
Bring a single set of nuts to protect the wide crack and hand crack sections. Protection is minimal but crucial for safety, as the route's crystal outcrops require careful placements and occasional reliance on sling anchors for belay setups.
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