Nautilus

THE N A U T I L U S

Captain Nemo never figured on this!! What a superb collection of over 120 climbs !

Steve Bechtel on the first pitch of Friday the 13th

This formation didn't have a name for a long time. It was broken down into subdivisions like the 'Ted's Trot Area', named for a first ascent on that particular part of the formation like the route 'Ted's Trot' (FA: 5-18-56, Grove Way, Ted Nast, Dan Doody and Andy Ryan). The northeastern end was known as 'P. O. Pinnacle' and included from the Friday the 13th Alcove to the Prow. It was named for a route on top of the formation leading to the summit (the P. O. Pinnacle Route), ending with a 'strenuous finish' up the infamous chimney known as the 'Thin Man' (FA: 4-4-53, Vern Anderson, Russ Heines, Rex Rogers, Margaret Holsapple and Shirley Briston). By 1971, there were about 15 climbs documented on the formation, some of which still retain the original names such as H&H Grunt, the first pitch of Friday the 13th, Left and Right Parallel Space and 'The Slot'. One climb called (at that time) NIGHT MARE #1 (FA: May, 1970, mark Chapman, Jeb Schenk and Joe Frechette - known today as Left Torpedo Tube) definitely foretold what was to come .... classic, hard, formidable offwidth. Ratchet forward about 30 years and we find an exceptional, splendid crag nestled within pristine surroundings boasting over 120 established routes ranging from cracks to face to sport climbs at all levels of difficulty. No less than 20 climbs are considered classics and on weekends, you better get here early (see shot at left of the Friday 13th Alcove). It could almost be a destination area in and of itself. And oh yes, it did acquire a name. During the late 70's, Paul Piana began referring to the entire thing as the "Nautilus" (after Jules Verne's Classic '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea') because it reminded him of a submarine doing a "power breeching maneuver", especially when viewed from I-80 coming northwestward across from Buford. The name just seemed to stick.

Where is it anyhow ???

TO: NE Nautilus, NCentral Nautilus, NW Nautilus, the PROW.

TO: SE Nautilus, SCentral Nautilus, SW Nautilus, Fri 13th, West End.

*O V E R V I E W S

THE SOUTHEAST SIDE

1.) South West: The location of the Three Sisters Area, Ted's Trot, Candlestick, Practice Slab, etc.

2.) South Central: Flying Buttress, Stinkzig, Handjacker and Progressive are found here.

3.) South East: You'll find climbs like October Light, Crankenstein, B-G Crack , Ghost Dance, Flare Thee Well, Outrider and Pod Awful here.

4.) Friday the 13th: This is Friday the 13th territory, including War Zone, Hesitation Blues and Middle Parallel Space. Around the corner to the right (far N E tip) is the 'Prow' where the Torpedo Tubes can be found.

THE NORTHWEST SIDE

No. 1... No. 2... No. 3...

No. 1.) North East: Bug Squad, Maxilash, Captain Nemo, Auto Supply, Horticulture, Cannonball and other exceptional climbs are located here.

No. 2.) North Central: Mainly the Cool Hand Luke Area and the Tongue Depressor. YES, that's someone rapping off of the "tongue" !!

No. 3.) North West: Upper and Lower Slot, Hairlip, Cornelius, Nitrogen Narcosis and other climbs are found here.

The West End: Here is Finally, Drunken Redneck Rapellers and another view of Ted's Trot Block.

Autumn brings about a changing scene around the Nautilus.

John Byrnes and Jim Brink, et al., all from Ft. Collins, Co., have been climbing in the area since the late seventies. Here, they are really 'pushing it' with friends at the curious 'Mushroom Boulder' near the SW Nautilus. Do the FFA of this structure and you'll be a part of Vedauwoo history.

Central Vedauwoo