PRINT: Climb Original Grapple, Flatirons

Original Grapple

V4-, Boulder,

Avg: 3.2 from 271 votes
FA: NA
Colorado > Boulder > Flatirons > North > Satellite Boulders > BBC Boulder

Access Issue: 2024 Crag Closures & Temporary Trail and Raptor Closures Details

The usual crags are closed for climbing for raptor nesting:

See: bouldercolorado.gov/service….

Click here for the trail closures. Some are M-F, some are 24/7. These impact the Bear Canyon/Fern Canyon regions primarily:

flatironsclimbing.org/tempo…

Click here bouldercolorado.gov/service… for the latest in raptor closures.

Description

Up the left trail at the base of the Second Flatiron is the BBC boulder. It's about thirty yards up the trail on the right, is a huge rock, and has massive rectangular block resting over it. On the south side is an overhanging jug system with an easy top out. The problem starts low on the right on an obvious jug and goes over the top. Overall, it is a decent problem where the crux may be keeping your butt off a rock right beneath it. I recommend it for beginners and intermediate climbers alike.

Protection

Crash pad.

Per Lukas Wiborg: also a good spotter is highly recommended, because a fall could lead to you landing on your back on a large rock.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Original Grapple.

V4 Original Grapple. Start down right, top out on jugs.

Trying to avoid hitting the rock seems to be the crux other than that fun problem with good moves!

Nick Santomauro getting his hook on.

Beta - looking straight into the sun.

Not sure if this is the best beta, but it worked for me.

Crossing through.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Peter Franzen
Phoenix, AZ

It's nice to have a good spotter ready to catch you on this one. It'd be a nasty tumble to fall down into the hole below the starting holds.

And I agree- the crux is keeping your butt from hitting the ground. Sep 28, 2001

Chip Phillips
Broomfield, CO

This problem is not "aka Ned's World Famous V4" ... anyway, it's a blast for the grade and deserves 3 stars. Jul 29, 2002

Anonymous Coward

I don't get it. This problem is at most v2. Is it because of the landing that 2 extra grades of difficulty have been tacked on? Jul 29, 2002

Blake Treadway

They don't call this boulder the BBC for nothing. I think the crux on this one are the crimps before the jug at [the] top. It's funny how the anonymous cowards love to downgrade everything. Here's a tip climb for fun. Nov 24, 2002

Steve Woods

I think this is too easy for V4. The V1 on the A7 boulder is way harder. (It's plenty fun though.) Nov 9, 2003

Anonymous Coward

Probably V3. Apr 18, 2005

logan johnson
West Copper, Co

The grade is all about the start, the V4 starts way down in the hole on the kind of pedestal-thingy below the good jugs. Solid 4 at most areas or hard 3 at Flagstaff. Sep 2, 2006

Andrew Vojslavek

BS, that low start has to be a V6, and that is at the low end.... Apr 11, 2007

UFOTOFU

Super fun problem. The hardest part is def the cross while holding the crimps and keeping your butt off the rock while doing it. I give it V4. Jun 10, 2010

Chris Plesko
Westminster, CO

V4-

I wonder about the big disparity in grading this thing. My (worthless) opinion? If you have the core to hold your ass off the rock, then the holds are all pretty good. If climbing roofs is foreign to you (that was me), then it's going to take some work to climb this thing. I'd say it was easy V4 for me, but who cares, it's fun to climb. Now that I can do it, I'd totally put it in a circuit, because it's enjoyable, just like A7-V1. Jul 29, 2011

ladyboner4climbing
Lakewood, CO

This is like "the ladder" of the Lower Satellites.... Something you just have to run laps on, bc it's so freakin' fun :D As far as the grading, I think we can all agree it's like a exponentially soft V4, so like V0 maybe V beginner? Of course it took me like a few sessions to get it.... Sooooo totally solid on the Vbeginnermynoseiscoveredinsnot grade. .... >> What is up with the grading munching!?! GAG!! Oct 20, 2011

Chad Cowan
Aurora, CO

Hard if you eat two Chik-fil-A sandwiches and do it in the summer. Jul 19, 2018

Dyllon W.

Super great route. Probably one of the best V4s in the area. Dec 2, 2018

Elle Delesky
Denver, CO

youtu.be/UkHPvTEITj8. Jun 22, 2021

Sasha Oncley
Boulder

Beta (more tall person) m.youtube.com/watch?v=4CDXf…. Nov 12, 2021

Tania Harsono
Boston, MA

SAG (short Asian girl) beta!: youtu.be/0pyns23dntE. Jul 19, 2022

Jennifer Margono
New York, NY

youtube.com/shorts/XkflT3jL…. Oct 13, 2022

Zach Bramel
MN

Videos:

Method A: youtu.be/sHitoOVETLQ.
Method B: youtu.be/1oEYlERiLEs. May 7, 2023