Shoshoni Peak, south side, Finnacle Ridge
Colorado, Indian Peaks
Author: Dougald MacDonald.
Climb Year: 2014.
Publication Year: 2015.
Paul Gagner and I climbed a long, stepped ridge on the southeast aspect of Shoshoni Peak (12,967') on July 19. This ridge defines the left side of the big gash on Shoshoni’s south face. We climbed six pitches (5.9-), plus a long section of scrambling in the middle, to reach a prominent spire that we called the Finnacle. After reversing the top pitch, we downclimbed and rappelled a gully to the east to reach the big gash. It’s very possible this ridge has been climbed before, but it hasn't been reported and we saw no evidence from prior ascents: Finnacle Ridge (5.9-). [Editor's note: Dougald MacDonald climbed a new route previously on Shoshoni Peak: Mass Wasting (MacDonald-Sievers, AAJ 2008).]
Dougald MacDonald
Media Gallery
Shoshoni Peak (12,967') from the southwest. Finnacle Ridge is the right skyline of the left formation. The left skyline was climbed in 1981 by Steve Dieckhoff and Jeff Lowe (reportedly 5.10+). An undocumented route (5.9+, old ring-angle pitons) ascends just to the right of the central prow. The vertical face on the right-hand formation was climbed in 2007 (Mass Wasting, 5.10b, MacDonald-Sievers).
The west and east buttresses of Shoshoni Peak. Paul Gagner and Dougald MacDonald climbed six pitches up the left-hand (west) wall, ending atop the leaning pinnacle (Finnacle Ridge). Greg Sievers and MacDonald climbed the steep face on the east (right-hand) buttress several years prior (Mass Wasting).