Peak Climbed: "The Hammerhead"

Peak Height: 6,980'

Route: Yodeling Moves

Difficulty: 5.0

Location: Flatirons, Colorado

Trailhead: Chautauqua Park

Mileage & Gain: 3 mi & 1,300 ft

Date Climbed: September 27, 2017

The Hammerhead, though only a minor Flatiron, is an excellent little outing close to town. The east face is easily accessed from the Royal Arch Trail and offers several hundred feet of your typical 4th class Flatiron slab. But the unique finish on the back side of the formation is what makes this route memorable. A short pitch of very steep, juggy and exposed 5.0 climbing (known as Yodeling Moves) is required to reach the true summit.

This climb is popular both with an without a rope. There's a bolted anchor on top for rappelling. Some are happy scrambling back down the crux, but the consequences of a fall would be major.