Travels and Vagabonds
The Maiden
In a rush for Ben and I to tick off as many of our early climbing goals in Colorado, I drove up to Boulder again to try a summit attempt of the Maiden, before a raptor closure to effect for the flatirons.
Continue reading “Flatirons: The Maiden”
Monetzuma Tower
Day after my birthday Ben and I finally ticked of climb we have wanted to do since we first got to Colorado. We successfully climbed the north ridge of Montezuma Tower on a crisp Sunday morning in January.
Halloween
For Halloween, Alexis came to Colorado and did some fun fall activities. It all began with a Halloween night up in the city of Denver. Continue reading “Autumn and Halloween 2012”
Climbing Weekend
A whirlwind tour of climbing took place in October. The troops were rounded up and we started off in the traddie area of Eldorado Canynon. We would then journey down south to sport some climbing in shelf.
Peak Season
I visited Alexis for her birthday at the end of September. We went west to the Pisgah forest area in search of adventure.
Lazy Climber Paradise
Labor Day weekend, I drove out to Rifle, CO with a bum foot to see what all the spray was about. Rifle was said to be a world class limestone climbing destination. I was hesitant, but it did not disappoint. Continue reading “Rifle, CO”
Turkey Perch
On a Saturday in August, we made a quick local-ish trip around the south Platte. There were a pile of us from the gym that hit up some real rock. Apparently we only climb at locations that have animal names. Everything started at the sheeps nose.
Yellowstone
The journey started on Saturday where we picked up Pat & Garrett and headed from Denver to Thermopolis, WY. Wyoming had dinsoaurs, jackalopes, buffalos and cowboys perched alongside the highway to entertain us on our journey. Thermopolis is a small town with the world’s largest mineral hot spring (they proclaim this with white rocks on the hillside). After driving through town a few times lost, we finally found our campground where we’d pitch our tents in the median between two gravel roads. Classy camping (they had wifi and showers!). We quickly ate and headed over to the hotsprings and chose Starplunge! because it wasn’t in an enclosed igloo and it was open. The retro sign hinted at what was to come… To sum up the Star Plunge I can state the following, rickety, lack supervision, wild, sketchy, and fun. We retired for the night and fell asleep quickly
Crestone Needle and Crestone Peak
I had finally convinced Ben to climb the Ellingwood Arête up the Crestone Needle, and so we went the first Sunady in August. We left the Springs early and drove down to the South Colony trailhead on Friday. We 4×4-ed to the new lower 4-wheel drive trailhead and were on the hike up by 6pm, slogging along the old 4×4 path. We made camp above the Lower South Colony Lake in a grassy patch and settled in for a nights rest before an AM start.
Continue reading “Crestone Needle and Peak: 14ers (Ellingwood Arete)”
Kelso Ridge
Late July, I convinced Derek to finally hike a 14er with me. We drove up in the pouring rain to the Grays Trailhead. The Blazer powered through some steep rutted 4×4 roads, after watching a Subaru burn through its clutch. Two and a half hours after leaving the house we were at the trailhead and settled in for a quick nap in the back of the blazer until 3:30am.
Continue reading “Grays and Torreys (Via Kelso Ridge) : 14ers”