Adams State College?

Anyone attend Adams State College in Alamosa? How'd you feel about the school, town, access to climbing (besides from Penitente Canyon) and skiing? How long a drive to Wolf Creek? Shelf Road?

Thanks

I didn't attend the school but my wife did and enjoyed her grad program. It seemed like the college is progressing, becoming a university etc. Alamosa can be one of the coldest places in the state and constantly competes with Gunnison. Its at least a 30 minute drive to the bouldering areas and at least a 1 hour 30 minute drive to Wolf Creek. Shelf Rd. is a 2 hour 30 minute drive and Indian Creek is 5 hours. There is a climbing wall at the college and is best suited for top roping. If you are a freeride and or backcountry skier who loves powder Wolf Creek is awesome, if you're a boarder who likes park its terrible. Watch out Wolf Creek is the WORST employer I have ever worked for! If you're looking for a season pass check out Monarch Resort its almost just as far as Wolf Creek.

I've been living in the San Luis valley (on the Del Norte side) for the past 3 years. Personally I would never want to live in Alamosa. If you are looking for a fun college town, Alamosa is not it. I try to go to Alamosa as infrequently as possible. As for Adam's State, from what I hear there are some positive attributes depending on your interests. There is a lot of climbing in the SLV including a lot of potential for new development. the climbing tends to be a lot of thin tweaky vertical face climbing. From Alamosa it's an easy trip (~1h or so) down to some quality climbing in northern New Mexico. There is definitely some excellent backcountry skiing on Wolf Creek pass, though its a bit of a drive from Alamosa. Personally, based purely on location I would choose Durango, Gunnison, Grand Junction, Fort Collins or Boulder to go to school in Colorado over Alamosa.

I don't go to Adams, but know quite f ew folks who do. Seems like a good school in a fair town. There is a brewery, but then this is CO.

Easy rides to Tres Piedre, Taos, a ton of new stuff and Big Meadow.

It does get cold,b but VERY little precip

Thanks for all there replies! I lived in Leadville for a couple of years and drove down there to the valley to chase ice a couple of times and climb at Penitente, but I never made it to Alamosa - Although I have spoken to folks who do like Alamosa it seems like it might be worth the commute from Del Norte to the Adams State campus, eh? I'm considering Mesa State too - this is all off in the future though, so I got time to ponder it.

Hell, if you lived in the Lead, then Alamosa will be like a city.

Lots of newish stuff around Del Norte/Monte..bouldering and sport

+1000 on checking out Western in Gunnison. Hartman Rocks, Taylor Canyon, Lost Canyon, Skyland Boulders and of course the Black.

Hey, I go to Adams State University and am pretty involved with the outdoors there. Penenitente is about 45min drive, Tres Piedras is 1hr 10min (pretty good granite multi pitch), and Wolf Creek and Monarch are about the same (~1 hr 30). I wouldn't want to live in Del Norte and commute and Alamosa - not really worth it and Alamosa does have a pretty decent outdoor community for its size. The town does have a lot to do if you're willing to get involved (especially if you're a student).

What's your planned major/minor for school? There is a minor in Adventure Sports offered at Adams State that is pretty good. A lot of focus on climbing and mountain travel so it sounds like you may like it.

Anyway, shoot me a PM, I'll answer any questions you have.

Shout out to B Hof - how was the honeymoon? This is KB!

Yeah, I'm at Adams State right now. Reading some of the replies I can't help but agree. Alamosa isn't that amazing of a town and sometimes the SLV can be a bit of a bummer but overall I like going here. One thing that I really like is that we established our climbing club as a team, so if you want to hang out with cool people and have the college pay for you to compete in the CCS Adams is the place. The team is pretty legit. I'd say we are more like a group of friends who happen to go to comps. And if you want to get outdoor you can probably just pitch some gas money to someone and be at some primo climbing within an hour or so. We go to areas as far north as Shelf Road and south as El Rito or Tres(going to El Rito on the 20th). On another note, I'm reading replies and realizing how many people I actually know on this thread. Anyway like KB said if you want to know more about the campus or anything hit me up and I'll be glad to answer what I can.

I would second Gunnison, but Alamosa does have it's positives. If you like mountaineering, the Crestones and Blanca/Little Bear are right there. Also, there is a mexican restaurant (at least there used to be, can't remember the name) down by the railroad tracks that had some of the best food I've had for pretty reasonable prices.

Edit: El Charro Cafe is it....