Howdy!! Anyone want to show me the freeway in Boulder?

Hey guys! I would like to start playing around the Flatirons and doing some on the scrambling.

I hike every week in that area and my latest research points me toward the freeway as the milder route.

I used to climb in a climbing gym a decade ago and I am fit/athletic with good body/space awareness.

Bought climbing shoes (I know they are not needed but might help my comfort level) just for this.

I would like to go up with someone for the psychological factor. I have looked at many videos and reviews but the angles can be deceiving and having someone would be appreciated the first time.

You won’t be responsible for me, just someone to follow :)

I can do some evenings Monday, Wednesday and Friday plus weekends. I have lights and I’m comfortable doing things at night if we finish at night.

If anyone is available this Sunday June 26th let me know!

cheers

Braham 

Braham B wrote:

Hey guys! I would like to start playing around the Flatirons and doing some on the scrambling.

I hike every week in that area and my latest research points me toward the freeway as the milder route.

I used to climb in a climbing gym a decade ago and I am fit/athletic with good body/space awareness.

Bought climbing shoes (I know they are not needed but might help my comfort level) just for this.

I would like to go up with someone for the psychological factor. I have looked at many videos and reviews but the angles can be deceiving and having someone would be appreciated the first time.

You won’t be responsible for me, just someone to follow :)

I can do some evenings Monday, Wednesday and Friday plus weekends. I have lights and I’m comfortable doing things at night if we finish at night.

If anyone is available this Sunday June 26th let me know!

cheers

Braham 

Hey man, just something to consider:

You say, “you’re not responsible for me,” but realistically, if you started to freeze up or get anxious at the exposure, the person you’re following is not going to simply move on; they’re going to have to try and help you, and it’s going to be more challenging to help someone who hasn’t climbed in ten years and may not understand climbing terms/commands.

It could be a good idea to revisit a climbing gym a couple of times while you’re waiting to find someone to lead you up, just to shake out the cobwebs in a more secure environment rather than on an (albeit easy) solo outside. 

Emilio Sosa wrote:

Hey man, just something to consider:

You say, “you’re not responsible for me,” but realistically, if you started to freeze up or get anxious at the exposure, the person you’re following is not going to simply move on; they’re going to have to try and help you, and it’s going to be more challenging to help someone who hasn’t climbed in ten years and may not understand climbing terms/commands.

It could be a good idea to revisit a climbing gym a couple of times while you’re waiting to find someone to lead you up, just to shake out the cobwebs in a more secure environment rather than on an (albeit easy) solo outside. 

Emilio Sosa wrote:

Hey man, just something to consider:

You say, “you’re not responsible for me,” but realistically, if you started to freeze up or get anxious at the exposure, the person you’re following is not going to simply move on; they’re going to have to try and help you, and it’s going to be more challenging to help someone who hasn’t climbed in ten years and may not understand climbing terms/commands.

It could be a good idea to revisit a climbing gym a couple of times while you’re waiting to find someone to lead you up, just to shake out the cobwebs in a more secure environment rather than on an (albeit easy) solo outside. 

Thanks Emilio! I know what you mean. The problem that is difficult for me to convey how capable I am if I don’t have a “curriculum” per se, and I understand how anyone would be hesitant to make the “commitment” to come with me.

My understanding is that there are a few areas to bail out?

Thanks for the advice, I’m just not the “indoor” type :)

Cheers

A friend of mine took this shot of someone getting rescued yesterday at approx. 150 feet up the 2nd Flatiron per the BoCo Sheriff's report because he froze up and couldn't go up or down. This happens all the time.

OP, if this happened to you, what would you expect your companion to do?

https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/free-solo-climber-gets-stuck-on-the-second-flatiron/

Isaiah aka Zay Foulks wrote:

Just follow the other hundred soloists :)

I think that’s my best bet ;)

Peter Beal wrote: This happens all the time.

My own stats are about every 4th trip up there, someone is in the process of bailing off the first 100 ft - super obviously clueless and unprepared.  All the people you see in running shoes are generally experienced trad climbers with many runouts of experience under their belt and likely started out in the Flatirons with a rope.  Also - all those photos where everything looks easy - the camera tends to only come out on the easy climbing.

I might have time this week to show you the way.  There are a few different ways to go near the bottom (and pretty much all over).  Down low, some people avoid the steeper bulges and get into thin slab moves which can feel impossible for an inexperienced climber.  The steeper bulges have a lot more features and cracks, more secure.   

I had to rescue a guy last year that got in trouble.  Pretty scary since I didn't have a rope.  He was stuck in a high step for 15 minutes, and was about to expire.  No time to call for a rescue.  His dip shit friend was 100 feet above, left him on his own to route find.  It took him another 10 minutes to scramble off and come help us.  

James W wrote:

My own stats are about every 4th trip up there, someone is in the process of bailing off the first 100 ft - super obviously clueless and unprepared.  All the people you see in running shoes are generally experienced trad climbers with many runouts of experience under their belt and likely started out in the Flatirons with a rope.  Also - all those photos where everything looks easy - the camera tends to only come out on the easy climbing.

Pretty much. I don't hesitate to call out any individuals who don't look like they have it together. Off route, sketchy climbing style, etc; it's pretty obvious. And yeah the running shoes usually have been resoled. Once you start falling, even on the 2nd, you aren't going to easily stop.

Greg D wrote:

I might have time this week to show you the way.  There are a few different ways to go near the bottom (and pretty much all over).  Down low, some people avoid the steeper bulges and get into thin slab moves which can feel impossible for an inexperienced climber.  The steeper bulges have a lot more features and cracks, more secure.   

I had to rescue a guy last year that got in trouble.  Pretty scary since I didn't have a rope.  He was stuck in a high step for 15 minutes, and was about to expire.  No time to call for a rescue.  His dip shit friend was 100 feet above, left him on his own to route find.  It took him another 10 minutes to scramble off and come help us.  

Greg, please help me understand why you want to show this guy up the Second when he clearly has no business being up there without a rope.

I mean, you just described a rescue situation that the OP could predictably find himself in if he starts "playing on the flatirons."

Why encourage that?

Braham B wrote:

I think that’s my best bet ;)

No, your best bet is to take a climbing class and find a mentor, and actually learn how to rock climb on real rock, with ropes.

After 5 years, and after you can lead solid 5.11 trad, go ahead and come back to the Flatirons without a rope.

Maybe hire a guide?  They can coach, and give you a good belay! 

KW has more style than to ask for help route finding. & yeah SM popularized a dangerous thing . Just cause you solo in front of others doesn't mean you're cool . My advice stand at the base & decide if today is your day to .....

mdbockmann Bockmann wrote:

Greg, please help me understand why you want to show this guy up the Second when he clearly has no business being up there without a rope.

I mean, you just described a rescue situation that the OP could predictably find himself in if he starts "playing on the flatirons."

Why encourage that?

Experience. Knowledge, Intuition. 

OP, how much experience do you have climbing on real rock with a rope?  Based on your post, it sounds like zero.  If that's the case the last thing you should do is start with free solo without a rope.   Climbing in a gym 10 yrs ago isn't going to help.  I'd say get comfortable climbing up to 5.9 on lead on real rock before you attempt to free solo this route.  Don't let the 5.0 grade fool you into thinking anyone can walk up whose in good shape. 

Greg Miller wrote:

Kyle walker?

https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/116841908/fall-from-2nd-flatiron-video-somewhat-disturbing

Awesome that you have the psyche for it OP, but I’ll echo the general sentiment here and say that soloing Freeway should not be considered casual, and it’s not something that should be done by non-climbers. It is a free solo, and there’s a considerable part of the route where you will die or get seriously injured if you fall. Imo way too many people scramble the flatirons, especially Freeway.

I did it once a few summers ago, after having sent multiple 5.13s outside, and still paused at the bottom crux for 1-2 minutes before committing to a sequence. The bottom part, especially, is a full on free solo.

I’d recommend getting re-acquainted with climbing via going to the gym and roping up outside as much as you can. After a while, do Freeway with a rope, then decide if you want to solo it. Good luck!

Sincere thanks for all the comments.

I tried to reply earlier but the app didn’t let me since I reached the number of allowed replies (to my own post.

crap. I typed a lengthy reply and it didn’t go though :(

I’ll get back from a computer and saved my typing.

Thanks

Braham B wrote:

Hey guys! I would like to start playing around the Flatirons and doing some on the scrambling.

I hike every week in that area and my latest research points me toward the freeway as the milder route.

I used to climb in a climbing gym a decade ago and I am fit/athletic with good body/space awareness.

Bought climbing shoes (I know they are not needed but might help my comfort level) just for this.

I would like to go up with someone for the psychological factor. I have looked at many videos and reviews but the angles can be deceiving and having someone would be appreciated the first time.

You won’t be responsible for me, just someone to follow :)

I can do some evenings Monday, Wednesday and Friday plus weekends. I have lights and I’m comfortable doing things at night if we finish at night.

If anyone is available this Sunday June 26th let me know!

cheers

Braham 

really? just because you hike does not mean you can solo a slab. get a clue.

I recently went to boulder for the first time and loved Freeway. There are a few solid moves up there which you wouldn’t want to fall on