Route of the Month

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The Drool – Route of the Month

For a long time the Drool was one of those local secrets that, like Fight Club, you just didn’t talk about (due to sensitive access.) Thankfully that all changed a couple years ago when Pitkin County Open Space bought the property the climb sits on, and you no longer have to hike in looking over [...]

February 10th, 2010 | BJ Sbarra | 1 comment | Continued
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Comic Relief – Route of the Month

For many trad climbers in Colorado, the arrival of fall means one thing: it’s time to head to the Black Canyon. The scorching heat of summer has finally relented, giving way to perfect bluebird days. While some would say the Black’s fearsome reputation has decreased in recent years, this is stll very much a place [...]

September 25th, 2009 | BJ Sbarra | 1 comment | Continued
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Northwest Buttress of Capitol Peak – Route of the Month

Deep in the heart of the Elk Mountains lurks a route so fearsome, people only whisper its name in conversation:
“I hear it’s a tottering pile of choss.”
“I hear you don’t get any good gear for 1000 feet.”
“I heard Michael Kennedy soloed it naked in mountain boots.”
I can’t vouch for the last one, but I can [...]

July 10th, 2009 | BJ Sbarra | 1 comment | Continued
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Mitten Slab – Route of the Month

By Lynn Sanson
Having lived in Estes Park for 7 years I was spoiled with many easily accessible moderate multi-pitch routes. While Carbondale has great local crags, there are few options where one can go to get off the ground without driving an hour plus. So my interest was peaked when I heard about a [...]

April 27th, 2009 | BJ Sbarra | 1 comment | Continued
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Medicine Man – Route of the Month

By Mike Schneiter
Every spring weekend, scores of cars pass by Colorado National Monument on their way to climbing destinations in Moab and the surrounding desert. Generally, the Monument is thought of as being a lesser climbing destination, and the mantra of “for every good pitch, there’s a bad pitch” does hold true on the majority [...]

March 18th, 2009 | Mike Schneiter | 1 comment | Continued
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Avocado Gully – Route of the Month

One of the unique and appealing things about ice climbing is how it can change from day to day. One day the ice is fat and plastic, the next it could be thin and brittle. The same climb can offer an incredible variety of climbing experiences as the season progresses. And nowhere is this more [...]

February 18th, 2009 | BJ Sbarra | 5 comments | Continued