First trip to colorado
|
Wife just finished paramedic school and we're new climbers. We're wanting to take a trip to colorado. We're from northeast texas so we're very limited on access here. We would mostly be sport climbing, maybe a little trad. I would really like the option for some taller routes. We're used to the 40 to 60 foot range. I would kill for a multipitch true sport route. I can lead 5.9, and she can follow 5.9. Any suggestions on a good location in southwest colorado? Thanks in advance. |
|
Rifle/New Castle area too far? |
|
Not too far at all. We're wanting to do a 14er and then climb for a day or two. Just trying to get an idea of where a good spot would be to get it all done in the same area. We have only climbed in gyms or at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch, so just getting a plan together. |
|
I check out the rifle mountain park. Not many easy options. Mostly 5.10 or harder. |
|
if you're leading 5.9, there won't be anything/much to do at rifle. |
|
Seems like Boulder covers anything we could possible want to do. Thanks for the help. Is there a great guide book for that area? |
|
All of the crags in Boulder have beautiful up to date guide books. Mountain project does a good job as a reference too. |
|
Check out Buena Vista area - there's a lot of nice moderate sport climbing (documented well here on MP). For a sporty multipitch adventure you could do the Davis Face D3 route - well bolted, with great views (you can also watch the weather coming in). Have a great trip! |
|
Boulder is great if you live here, but camping here sorta sucks. So if you're into hoteling it then Boulder is a Great destination, if camping I'd look elsewhere. |
|
Not in southwest Colorado, but here are two multi-pitch bolted routes I'd recommend. |
|
Take a look at Independence pass and Hagerman pass (near Aspen and Leadville). You could do Mt Elbert - the tallest 14er in the state. |
|
If you wanted to do a 14er and some sport climbing, the frisco area could work for you. Like the above poster mentioned, there is a 6-8? pitch bolted route on Mt Royal called Royal Flush. There is also Mt Quandary, an easily accessed 14er that is just south of Breckenridge, which is near Frisco. It is super busy on the weekends. In addition there are some single pitch sport crags right off of I 70 in that area as well. The area is called 10 mile canyon and a couple places with routes in your grade range would be white cliff and Officers Gulch West. If you are planning on camping, there are some nice primitive spots in the Quandary area as well. |
|
For easy Multi Clear Creek has a bunch. Good stuff in BoCan as well. A bunch of awesome easy multi in Ouray and Telluride area. |
|
mountainproject.com/v/the-y…
That one is good. But there isn't much else in the way of moderate climbing there. You can go anywhere in the canyon after going here. mountainproject.com/v/lost-… I haven't been to this one personally, an acquaintance has talked about it. But I love the South Platte, and there seems to be a good selection at that wall. mountainproject.com/v/playi… Clear Creek Canyon is nice, but it may be quite chilly there for you, it doesn't get much sun. If you are climbing during a weekday you could check out: mountainproject.com/v/rewri… But, the camping is not too great in Boulder. Estes has a fantastic selection of everything. To get a semi-alpine experience you may want to check out, if you do go here be warned that the climbers trail is pretty much invisible from the main trail: mountainproject.com/v/centr… |
|
indeed, camping in boulder sucks. bummer. the AAC has been flirting with doing a climbers' hostel somewhere near eldo, but it's a ways off, i think. |
|
Been looking at info on Estes park. I'm seeing alot of routes rated "grade 2 or grade 3" what does this mean? |
|
In lamens terms how long it will take overall including the approach, descent, etc (car to car time) |
|
ChaseSmallwood wrote:Been looking at info on Estes park. I'm seeing alot of routes rated "grade 2 or grade 3" what does this mean?This is a good 1-pitch spot. 10-15 minute steep hike up to some 5.7-5.10 climbs: mountainproject.com/v/jug-d… |
|
Eliot Augusto wrote: Clear Creek Canyon is nice, but it may be quite chilly there for you, it doesn't get much sun.Wall of Justice gets a lot of sun, actually. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of roites below 5.10. There is, however, a multi-pitch 5.9 - 5.10 as the first route you come to on the approach to the Wall of Justice. There are 2 5.8's just before the split to high-wire/low-wire approach, but I think they're in the relatively short range. I was there yesterday, and got a nice tan! |