It’s hot, we have errands to run, and we’re not moving so fast. But we make it to Vedauwoo eventually and find Mark and Kate in a similar state at the ever-name-changing area Jurassic Park. Despite our laziness we enjoy a few routes: First Iteration 5.9+ There’s some hard slab climbing here if you try…

Colin bravely joins us as Ann practices driving the BAT up twisty Poudre Canyon. The river is pretty high, enough to make someone on a raft going by scream audibly every few minutes. Which is also high enough to keep us away from the Palace. Crystal Wall is the place to be today anyway, a…

It’s threatening to break 100°F this weekend, yet I’m feeling more interested in sport climbing than high peaks. Doug and Liz want to test their backpacking gear, so I suggest we haul packs up to the Ironsides formation of the Ironclads. There we can camp and climb at a cool 8,800 feet of elevation in…

Doug decides to subject his mom Beth to a weekend of camping and climbing with us at Vedauwoo. We all pool resources to make her first night in a tent comfortable. We supply the two-person tent, Kate & Mark supply the ample air mattress, and Doug & Liz supply the sleeping bag. Beth is a…

We’re looking for some easily-reached climbing before we head home today. I have a very old guidebook with some routes in Clear Creek Canyon above Golden, an easy drive. After perusing The Mountain Project information as well, we choose High Wire Crag for its selection of moderates. It turns out to be a popular choice,…

We take Mom up to Buttonrock Reservoir to do a couple of the roadside climbs that she can watch. Ann and I both enjoy Green Slab 5.9+, then toprope the strenuous Buick 5.10a, an overhanging lieback crack. Ann gives Dihedral 5.8 a try, but is turned back by the insecure stemming and finishes it on…

It feels like it will be a hot day, so we go to the Dark Side to look for shade. The views and flowers at The Bank Campground are enough to make me giddy. Bright sun shines on many wildflowers, while the snowy Sange de Christo mountains loom over the southern horizon. It turns out…

I’ve been fighting a cold all week, but I’m determined to make it down to Shelf Road with Ann, Doug, Liz, Kate, Mark and many other climbing friends for the annual gathering at Cheesehead Ranch, a generous climber’s spread near the crag. I’m still watery-eyed and runny-nosed as we set up camp Friday night. Saturday…

Not that they don’t still scare me, but I’m starting to gain just a little confidence on 5.7 Vedauwoo cracks. Sean and Colin join Ann, Kate, and me for some more quality time on the Nautilus. I start out on Ted’s Trot 5.7, which looks like an endless, grueling offwidth. To my relief it’s fairly…

Inspired by some blue sky visible through the window when we wake up, we rally to Crystal Wall. We scope out the Palace too, but the river looks higher than we want to deal with. It’s a little windy and cold. Ann has some trouble with cold fingers, but manages to redpoint the 7-bolt 5.7…