Skip to content
Happy New Year! Closed on 1/1/2025!
Happy New Year! Closed on 1/1/2025!
Mon - Sat 10am-6pm Sun 12pm-5pm
719-633-0732

Climb

  • Ice Climbing in Vail’s Rigid Designator Amphitheater

    Ice Climbing in Vail’s Rigid Designator Amphitheater

    Recently, two Chaletans, Lawrence Housley and Shane Leva, chose the option of ice climbing and took a trip to Vail where they spent the day in the Rigid Designator Amphitheater.  Lawrence had mentioned before leaving that Vail offers some of the most challenging mixed and ice climbing in Colorado – all while being an easily accessible, single pitch venue.  The Amphitheater alone has more than 30 mixed and ice routes to choose from.  Half the battle when we plan a trip there is deciding which routes you want to climb.  I had so many questions.  Luckily, I had a chance to sit down and catch up with the guys and talk about their day on the ice.
  • Climbing Colorado: South Platte’s “Lost in Space”

    Climbing Colorado: South Platte’s “Lost in Space”

    With a long spell of sunny mid winter Colorado days in the forecast, I decided it was about time to dust off the rock shoes and “dry out” on some rock. In search of a partner to join me in the unusual February cragging opening, I mentioned the idea to my Pikes Peak Alpine School co-worker, Savannah. After endless days of riding powder and corduroy, she quite literally screamed out in excitement for a chance to get away from the grueling days of snow and backcountry outings (a little strange, I know)
  • Via Ferrata: A Different Kind of Climbing

    Via Ferrata: A Different Kind of Climbing

    Despite what you read in Outside, Climbing or Alpinist about enduring epics, it was just one of those days when I did not want to be on the rock. We had ascended to a Refugio by cable car the previous afternoon and it had snowed for the remainder of the afternoon and into the night. We accumulated six inches on the deck by morning and it made for a spectacular sunrise. The experience of the previous day had taught me that any form of moisture on the obvious hand and foot holds would make them extremely slippery. I had to take solace in the fact that just being at Refugio Lagazoui was a stunning experience. But we came here to climb!

  • Traditional Moderate Climbs in the Black Canyon

    Traditional Moderate Climbs in the Black Canyon

    Traditional Moderates in the Black Canyon: AKA…Welcome to the Black! by Phil Wortmann   To start with, the term “moderate” should not be misconstrued as meaning lacking in difficulty, especially in the Black. Advanced traditional climbers would identify a moderate…

  • Graduating with Honors: Bouldering in Cheyenne Canyon

    Graduating with Honors: Bouldering in Cheyenne Canyon

    These facts, known by locals for decades, make this chunk of granite a popular favorite. It was probably Army climbers who first climbed here seriously. Harvey T. Carter taught soldiers how to climb and correctly place pitons in “the Canyon” during the 1950’s. Harvey developed many projects here over the years, and was responsible for mapping many of the classic routes still sought after today. He also brought attention to the boulder by introducing top notch talent. One summer, Yosemite hardmen Yvon Choinard and Royal Robbins passed through the area and worked several problems here with him. They were impressed with the quality of the rock and spent several days working its problems.