View Full Version : Any Rock climbers on the board?
One of my friends is really into climbing and convinced me to go out with him yesterday. I had a blast and holy crap am i sore. just wanted to see if anyone else is a climber.
sneakerd
10-24-2011, 18:20
Did it in the past, that's really why I moved here from Chicago- for Eldorado Canyon. Haven't for quite a few years now, wrecked a knee, got too heavy [BooHoo]you know. If you want a blast- do the Bastille Crack in Eldo.
Did it in the past, that's really why I moved here from Chicago- for Eldorado Canyon. Haven't for quite a few years now, wrecked a knee, got too heavy [BooHoo]you know. If you want a blast- do the Bastille Crack in Eldo.
Nice my friend moved here from chi town to climb as well.
I am going to moab over thanksgiving.
sneakerd
10-24-2011, 18:29
the Crack is a vertical 3-pitch climb that is pretty cool. Named after some French climbers who went up it on Bastille Day, while drinking champagne.
It's the vertical wall on your left past the parking area inside the park. There are always people on it, belaying from next to the road as you pass the foot bridge on your right.
I've enjoyed it in the past, exceeded my skill-level on occasion while trying to keep-up with others. One thing I learned quickly is that like most physical pursuits to "do it well" requires complimentary genetics. You either have em' or you don't...no overcoming that fact. I've not gone in years now.
Sounds like you had a a good time, that's cool.
sneakerd
10-24-2011, 18:38
That's a fact. Fingers that could support you at 175 cannot do so at 230.
DD977GM2
10-24-2011, 18:52
Been climbing for almost 20 years. I am more of a trad climber but dont mind climbing bolts ever so often.
Some advice......when your outdoors communication is key in event you can not speak..use rope signals or get a walkie talkie,
do not try to be billy badass and go way above your skill level. This will get you dead.
Get a nice comfortable harness and take good care of it. It will save your body for the hike out on a long day of climbing.
Dont buy crap gear, get only quality gear and if you are bailing on a climb due
to weather or fatigue, better to leave gear in the rock to get down safely
then die because you attempted to use natural features to attach your rope to, such as a tree trunk that is the size of a baseball bat in circumfrence.
Check out www.mountainproject.com (http://www.mountainproject.com) , great resource for climbs in CO and all over.
Also read John Long's Climbing Anchors. It is awesome for learning the ins and outs of
climbing anchors, gear placement, techniques for climbing. It has saved my ass
more then once or twice.
3 knots you should know while unconscious & drunk..
1. Figure 8
2. Clove Hitch
3. Prusik
The reason for the 3 is to be as K.I.S.S. as possible and they can
do all of the jobs as other "fancy" knots.
You can PM with anything you would like to know. Maybe we can go hit a gym and
start climbing together and show you the ropes...pun intended. [Beer]
DD977GM2
10-24-2011, 18:54
Did it in the past, that's really why I moved here from Chicago- for Eldorado Canyon. Haven't for quite a few years now, wrecked a knee, got too heavy you know. If you want a blast- [B]do the Bastille Crack in Eldo.
One of the most iconic crack climbs in this country If I do say so myself [Beer]
hurley842002
10-24-2011, 18:57
Used to climb a bunch in college, in fact me and a buddy started a climbing club at the same college. I've really only climbed Vogel and Picketwire canyons (Southeast Colorado). Still have my harness and shoes, but plan on completing my gear by spring, and getting back into it. Physically i'm much better prepared for climbing now, so it should be interesting to see how I do. Also have a rock wall at my gym that i've been meaning to climb, but it's always packed and definitely not the same thing as the real deal.
Been climbing for almost 20 years. I am more of a trad climber but dont mind climbing bolts ever so often.
Some advice......when your outdoors communication is key in event you can not speak..use rope signals or get a walkie talkie,
do not try to be billy badass and go way above your skill level. This will get you dead.
Get a nice comfortable harness and take good care of it. It will save your body for the hike out on a long day of climbing.
Dont buy crap gear, get only quality gear and if you are bailing on a climb due
to weather or fatigue, better to leave gear in the rock to get down safely
then die because you attempted to use natural features to attach your rope to, such as a tree trunk that is the size of a baseball bat in circumfrence.
Check out www.mountainproject.com (http://www.mountainproject.com) , great resource for climbs in CO and all over.
Also read John Long's Climbing Anchors. It is awesome for learning the ins and outs of
climbing anchors, gear placement, techniques for climbing. It has saved my ass
more then once or twice.
3 knots you should know while unconscious & drunk..
1. Figure 8
2. Clove Hitch
3. Prusik
The reason for the 3 is to be as K.I.S.S. as possible and they can
do all of the jobs as other "fancy" knots.
You can PM with anything you would like to know. Maybe we can go hit a gym and
start climbing together and show you the ropes...pun intended. [Beer]
Awesome I will definitely take you up on that offer i live really close to rock n jam in Thornton.
Learned how to belay yesterday climped a few 5.9's decently well both 5.10s kicked my ass though. got the figure 8 down remember the prusik from the forest service when i did fire.
And my forearms and shoulders are definitely trashed today
mcantar18c
10-24-2011, 19:09
Free climbing is SOOO much more fun than being tied in.
Don't try it till you're comfortable climbing with gear though.
sneakerd
10-24-2011, 19:12
Or until you develop your death wish!
hurley842002
10-24-2011, 19:15
Or until you develop your death wish!
Yeah, i'm not too macho to use a harness and rope.
DSB OUTDOORS
10-24-2011, 19:20
I started climbing in Boy scouts some 30 years or so ago. I miss it something fierce! My last climb sucked, my friend brought his dog and he thought he "the dog" thought he could repell. I watched this dog fly over my head 80 feet in the air. Landing broke 2 legs front and back and 6 ribs one through the side. I carried this 80lb dog off the mountain like it was nothing and the dog lived. Lost his back leg and part of his front. Sad but I could get back into climbing after that.
AirbornePathogen
10-24-2011, 19:23
I haven't climbed in at least a year and a half, but if anyone wants to hit a gym or something, I'm down. I'm mainly a sport climber.
Yep. Live in Boulder and don't want to share too many details: I'm kinda identifiable by them. I'm not famous, but some of those folks are on my speed-dial.
patrick0685
10-24-2011, 20:36
I haven't climbed in at least a year and a half, but if anyone wants to hit a gym or something, I'm down. I'm mainly a sport climber.
damn i wish i would have known this...iv been looking for a climbing buddy since my last one left town
I personally havent climbed since last summer and that once only a couple of times, really enjoyed it and did a bunch of climbs up in golden, I've led all of the 5.9's in that area
AirbornePathogen
10-24-2011, 21:33
Patrick, shoot me a PM if you like, we can hit Thrillseekers or something. Been in there to check it out, pretty nice facility.
Mick-Boy
10-24-2011, 22:15
I've been climbing off and on for about 15 years. If anyone is down in the Springs area and needs someone to climb with I'm game if I'm in the US. I'm mostly a 5.9ish climber.
Climbed for 13 years. Mostly at a no name crag in OH and the New River Gorge. Moved to CO to climb and picked up Mt. biking.
Funny, the Bastille was climbed with champagne and Castle Rock was climbed with Country Club Malt Liquor. [Beer]
I'd have to say that my worst/poop the pants day of climbing was at Wall St., in Moab. No pro, run out and no belay pro. The second asked what it was like. All I said was "don't fall". All I had for pro was a cleaning tool behind a crumbling crack.
There is a great quote in some tourist flyer.
"Rock, in the desert, exists on the brink of decay."
Amen
I have been contemplating selling my rack. Too many memories but I still might sell it.
Such a diverse group here it is awesome [Beer]
It will be interesting to see if this sucks me in like some of my other hobbies do I like the problem solving aspect of bouldering when I was messing around with it yesterday.
DD977GM2
10-25-2011, 01:31
Such a diverse group here it is awesome [Beer]
It will be interesting to see if this sucks me in like some of my other hobbies do I like the problem solving aspect of bouldering when I was messing around with it yesterday.
The gear isnt as expensive as firearms, but it does add up.
A typical cam is $50-$75 and and entire rack of everything you need is aroun $1k including rope, slings, biners and pro.
AirbornePathogen
10-25-2011, 02:39
Absolutely. I have about $1500 invested in gear, and that's just the essentials. Assorted webbing, biners, 2 harnesses, 2 pair of shoes, 3 belay devices, rope, and a set of quickdraws. I've just scratched the surface.
Mick-Boy
10-25-2011, 03:13
But you can get into bouldering for under $100. ;)
not so much into rock climbing but i have been a professional climber for a long time (rigging , scaffolding and outside building maintenance )
rule #1 dont drop anything this includes yourself
rule #2 if there is a doubt then there is no doubt (dont do it )
rule #3 see rule # 1&2
while some would say pay top dollar for gear i say get what works and is comfortable .
the one place to never skimp on gear is rope . dont mess around with cheap rope ever !! if its less than 1.00 a foot there might be something wrong with it or its just working line (working line is the crap at home depot ) . when it comes to metal gear always check to make sure your buying american steel and aluminum .
do yourself a favor and practice your knots and rope work . your rope is your friend , lover , life savor ect but if you dont practice that same rope can ruin your day .
if your interested i can get you a copy of a few field manuals that can help you out (mountaineering and rigging) also i think i still have some short line for practicing knots id be happy to give you .
sneakerd
10-25-2011, 08:08
Yes the gear is pricey, but lasts forever. If you want a freebie or 2, there is a big flake at about the top of the 1st? pitch of the Crack, people always get their pro stuck in there and eventually leave it. If you bring the right stuff with you, you can repo some pro from deep in that flake.
patrick0685
10-25-2011, 10:24
Patrick, shoot me a PM if you like, we can hit Thrillseekers or something. Been in there to check it out, pretty nice facility.
Man i would love to but im in OKC now[Bang]
One thing I miss about climbing is the concentration. This was the only sport that required 100% attention. Everything else just went away.
As with any hobby/sport, don't get hung up on the pretty shinny bobbles. A couple of sets of chocks will go farther than cams. Cute slippers are nice for 30 second races up the wall. Now try wearing them for an hour.
When I started, we didn't have harnesses. We learned to tie a "Swiss seat" out of a length of webbing. The nickname for the Swiss seat was the "cheap motel" because it had no ballroom.
mcantar18c
10-25-2011, 10:43
The gear isnt as expensive as firearms, but it does add up.
A typical cam is $50-$75 and and entire rack of everything you need is aroun $1k including rope, slings, biners and pro.
Free climbing doesn't cost a thing [Muaha]
Climbing starts at 35 sec...
pt8yZCXNJFE
Paul if you ever wanna go I know some good easy to moderate stuff around the Mt. Evans area.
sneakerd
10-25-2011, 10:43
Racquetball actually does the exact same thing. Something about the small room and the bare white walls. It's been a long time since I've done that as well.[BooHoo]
adamking84
10-25-2011, 15:27
Aww yaaaa
Garden of the Gods
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t106/skyst3alth/Colo-RAD-o/052211GardenOfTheGods/243039_841089672407_1614377_42069704_7149738_o.jpg
Clear Creek
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t106/skyst3alth/Colo-RAD-o/101511%20Cat%20Slab/319279_915937212541_22010975_41304706_835879557_n. jpg
hurley842002
10-25-2011, 15:30
SWEET pics Adam, I would love to climb Garden of the Gods at some point. I frequent that area and always see climbers, but have yet to climb there.
DD977GM2
10-25-2011, 15:48
Aww yaaaa
Garden of the Gods
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t106/skyst3alth/Colo-RAD-o/052211GardenOfTheGods/243039_841089672407_1614377_42069704_7149738_o.jpg
Clear Creek
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t106/skyst3alth/Colo-RAD-o/101511%20Cat%20Slab/319279_915937212541_22010975_41304706_835879557_n. jpg
Clear CReek pic, is that the Cat Slab wall?
adamking84
10-25-2011, 16:37
It sure is, the far left route (long 5.8). One of the members of our group was learning to clean and rap routes, I hung out up top to make sure he didn't kill himself. It was freezing down below in the shade, nice and toasty up top.
We just did the 4 pitch on the other side of the canyon this past weekend (Playin' Hookey?), that's a fun route.
Mick-Boy
10-25-2011, 21:20
Montezuma's tower up top? I did that climb with my dad when I was about 14. Great fun. Scariest 5.6 I've ever been on. ;)
Used to go every day..
After a broken hand and shattered ankle.. climbing isn't in my 'can do' list anymore... I tried some indoor climbing, and it just wasn't the same..
DSB you'll discover muscles are capable of failing to function after hours on a slab of rock :) [Coffee]
I think guns are a cheaper hobby :)
I figured there were some other rock-rats hiding on this board! More of a sport/boulderer here- and mixed ice when i can find time to train. I have too many hobbies that are gear-intensive already so bouldering strongly appeals to my wallet: shoes/pad/chalk. done.
Be careful not to overtrain once the addiction fully sets in.....ask me how I know. Most of my best and most intense memories are from traveling and climbing. Spending winters in Hueco Tanks TX bouldering with some of the best climbers from around the world is ethereal and inspirational on a completely different level.
Have fun and don't be afraid to bail on your climbing partner if they are not safe enough for you. You will find another/better. Equipment fails occasionally, people fail commonly.
rockhound
10-26-2011, 13:19
last climb was montezuma, years ago. gave it up when the kids came along.
10 years and a half bum shoulder later, expect my days of climbing are over
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