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Sinks Canyon – Scud Area – No Wind!
At last a day dawns breathless and clear. Bob and Sandy join us as we head up to the Scud Area again to have our fill. It doesn’t take as long as we hope it might. Girls’ Day Out 5.7 – Ann kicks us off on this nice long route with a good variety of…
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Sinks Canyon – Scud area
Again the morning is promising. We hike up to the SCUD area and manage to get a few routes in. I decide it’s too windy when I have to reach above me for my rope on rappel. Check out the rope in the picture. Routes: Dog ‘n Dude 5.9+ – good pocket warmup, bigger holds…
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Wild Iris
The wind has died down in the morning, so we pack up the climbing packs again and head up to the OK Corral wall of Wild Iris. At 9,000 feet, we know this area will be hit-and-miss in October, and it is indeed quite cold when we arrive. It’s sunny, getting warmer, and windier. In…
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A windy tour of Sinks Canyon
The day begins with only a stiff wind. We optimistically don our climbing packs and start toward the cliff walls of the Fairfield Hill area of Sinks Canyon. Those cliffs are more distant than they look – we hike for an hour just to reach them. By that time it’s very windy. We tour the…
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Cranner Rock Lunch Stop
Shortly after turning west at Muddy Gap we stop to take a look at the wonderfully remote Sweetwater Rocks from the rest area by Cranner Rock. The 200-meter face of Split Rock beckons to climbers, but we’re headed to Lander to meet Ann’s parents today. We do have time to explore some of the BLM…
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East of Eden – Poudre Canyon’s Best Trad Route?
We’re a bit slow in the morning, but happily able to perambulate, so we pack up and descend the canyon a few miles to East of Eden 5.9, a lovely dihedral rising up next to the road in the Narrows. The crux comes early on this 100-foot route, at a blocky roof. Just after I…
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Mountain Park Campground
Some of Ann’s coworkers treat us to a free site at mountain park campground in the Poudre Canyon. We didn’t realize how big this place is. There are multiple loops and dozens of sites, showers, hookups, the whole bit. We are given some strong beverages as we tour around admiring our hosts’ rigs. We go…
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N Table Mountain Sidetrip
We have errands to do today, but we decide there is time for a quick trip to North Table Mountain for some sport climbing. At my suggestion, Ann starts up Deck Chairs on the Titanic 5.9+ on lead. The opening moves of this climb are pumpy, which make the remaining crimpy face harder. Ann has…
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Live Music: Olga Kern & CSO
Too much going on right now for a full review, unfortunately. It’s almost sufficient to say that Olga is a force of nature, and we’re powerless to resist her. We’ll be seeing her again in Fort Collins on Oct. 6! The night’s program: Glinka Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of…
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Guyot Cirque Hike
Dad (and Jezze) suggest an exploration of a small, intriguing old mining trail that Dad spotted once on his way up to Georgia pass on the continental divide. The drive itself is a treat, taking us through crowds of blazing yellow aspen (and crowds of people too) on Kenosha Pass. The hike begins close to…