"Face-it is a concise, 80-foot sport route tucked in Officer’s Gulch West, offering a blend of roof and face climbing with excellent bolt protection. Perfect for climbers seeking a quick, technical challenge in Colorado’s Ten Mile Canyon."
Face-it offers a tight and engaging climb set in the rugged confines of Officer's Gulch West, part of the Ten Mile Canyon climbing area in Colorado. This short 80-foot route packs a solid dose of challenge within a single pitch, beginning with a sequence of roof moves that quickly activate your core and test your grip strength. As you crest these initial obstacles, the climb opens into enjoyable face climbing on moderate holds where balance and technique take center stage. The route finishes at a small roof section and gains a final set of face moves leading to a two-bolt anchor sharing chains with the adjacent Corner Route.
The rock texture is typical of this region, offering enough friction for confident foot placements but demanding respect on less-traveled holds. Because Face-it is not yet heavily trafficked and is currently undergoing maintenance cleaning, climbers should be attentive to hold stability—testing every grip before committing is wise. Wearing a helmet is advised to guard against loose flakes or unexpected debris dislodgement.
Protection comes in the straightforward style of sport climbing, with seven bolts providing a secure lead. The fixed hardware is solid, but climbers should note the shared anchor setup for a smooth descent or top-rope setup.
Approach your climb with mindfulness. The access trail to Officer's Gulch West is moderate in difficulty, threading through dense patches of pine and rocky outcrops typical of Ten Mile Canyon’s dramatic landscape. The serene forest overhead muffles city noise, replacing it with the occasional call of distant birds or the whisper of wind sliding through needles. This blend of natural sound and focused movement makes Face-it an inviting choice for climbers seeking quality climbing without the crowds or the marathon approach.
Timing your climb during late spring through early fall will generally ensure dry conditions, as this east-facing wall catches morning sun, warming the route early in the day. Afternoon shade offers respite on warmer days. Given the short length, Face-it fits well into a day’s multi-pitch program or serves as an accessible introduction to sport climbing for recent converts from gym climbing.
Climbers planning to visit should bring plenty of water—Colorado’s elevation and dry mountain air can dehydrate quickly. Keep your footwear sticky and clean for precise edging on the small holds; gloves or chalk can help maintain grip. Though the route is brief, its roof moves will demand good body positioning and mental focus right off the bat.
In sum, Face-it presents a compact, rewarding challenge that invites climbers to engage both physical and mental skills. It holds strong potential to become a local favorite once regular visitors help clean and establish it further, revealing all the subtle nuances within its short window of climbing.
Given the route’s recent cleaning status, some holds may still be unstable—wear a helmet to protect against falling debris. The approach involves uneven terrain through forested sections, so caution on loose rock and roots is advised. Also be mindful of sharing anchors with a neighboring route when preparing to rappel or set up top-ropes.
Test every hold thoroughly before weighting it to avoid surprises.
Bring a helmet since this route is newly cleaned and holds may be unstable.
Plan your climb for morning to early afternoon to benefit from favorable sun and shade cycles.
Footwear with good edging capabilities is key for the technical face moves.
The route is sport protected with 7 bolts leading to a two-bolt anchor equipped with quicklinks, shared with the adjacent Corner Route. Helmets are advised during early ascents due to loose rock and ongoing cleaning.
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