plexus

You just summed up my climbing philosophy!! Pretty area. Last I heard the gate is closed indefinitely, with various explainations as to why. One of the main reasons for the gate closures is because of illegal trash dumping. I did a story years ago about the epidemic of illegal dumping back in the area. Somebody actually dumped the corpse of a horse up there . Disgusting. Some of the worst I've seen was up by Baker Lake. It makes one feel that people should have to pass an IQ test in order to get fitted with opposable thumbs!!

If you're in Winter Park, you can either make the scenic drive through RMNP and go to Jurrasic Park, which is located just south of Estes Park. I can't tell you how good it is exactly, but from reading up on it, its a lot of moderate single pitch stuff. Lumpy tends to be sandbagged. Although Trail Ridge Road might be closed. They closed it last weekend due to snow. Another option is past Arapahoe Basin ski area there is a local climbing area. I've dinked around and did a bit of bouldering and the rock is so-so. But it won't be super far from your location. Do a google search for Breckenridge and rock climbing and you should come up with something. You also might find something along the road on Hwy 40. Toss a rope on it and get to it. Ironically enough, the Rockies really don't have that much good rock climbing. Lots of loose rock. The stuff I've climbed in the Indian Peaks and Mosquito range tends to be crap.

I'd say Independence Pass near Aspen. Great rock, great location and you'd be there in time for the namesakes to start turning gold. We did get snow down to 11,500 last weekend. Not much climbing that would be worth a crosscountry trip near Vail or Breck. Fishing you can cross down Independence Pass and try the Arkansas river.

Nicely done. My wife was going, "Wow!" repeatedly over my shoulder while looking at the TR. Then she asked me, "When are we moving back to Washington?" I do have to say I really like that waterfall shot on the first picture.

Wow Michael, you're the first stranger I ever sprayed on behalf for to my friends out here in Colorado!! Nice climb and I am jealous. Glad the rock turned out to be solid. It just is deflating when a climb you've been jones-ing on after a while ends up being choss.

Loved the jumping into the lake photo. Eight days without a shower; did any fish float up to the surface after your Ross Lake baptism?? =)

Glad you had a good time. Mixup is a fun climb in a great location. The lower part I remember thinking I was climbing on ballbearings. We only did two rappels and a lot of careful downclimbing. When I did it, we actually had to climb and stem across a moat more down from Gunsight notch and then traverse over some exposed 4th class you didn't want to fall from.

Hmm, climbs with Dallas featuring quarter-inch bolts? Why does that sound familiar?! =)

Three years ago I quit my job and spent three months living in tents, on friends' couches, etc. Got to some really pretty areas and did some really cool stuff. From that I would suggest either the Pasayten or up around Stehekin. Completely different feeling to them but both well worth taking a few days to spend up in those areas. Oh and whatever you do, don't forget the camera!!!

Dude, this thread is making me homesick!! Oh to be rich and have a summer off...

We should just follow Edward Abbey's outline in Desert Solitaire. Starting with No. 1: Get rid of paved roads and sidewalks. Also get rangers out of the visitor center. They're called rangers, let them range.

Tim, check my post a couple posts down. That's exactly what I did. My middle finger is fine now. My ring finger isn't. I was explained to by my doctor friend Friday night that your ring and pinky fingers are the two weakest fingers. My problem is I screwed up the tendon down deep as opposed to closer to the wrist. On my home wall I can boulder with big jugs with my right no problem. It also didn't help that I jumped on a 10c for my first climb of the season (I swear I thought it was a 5.9). Good luck and use lots of range of motion exercizes, your finger donught and ice, ice, ice.

Two months later, heading for first outisde climbing trip of the season. Started on a 10c, got about 50 feet up of trying not to overuse my right arm, got over a headwall and was done for the day. Its the tendon that runs up to the ring finger that's FUBAR. Bulge about 3 inches down from the wrist. Told my doctor. She just shook her head. As my friend put it as he lowered me cursing to the ground."Look at it this way: you'll get really strong at mountain biking this summer."

That's creepy?! Have you seen the other plunder that should be buried that has surfaced on this thread?! ARGH! It's scarier than the leviathon of the deep!

AAARGGHH!!! You burnt the barnacles off my keel with that boobie booty photo matey!! I'd make ye walk the plank, but it shriveled up after that shot of Davey Jones' boobies!!! AARRGGHH!!! It hurts!!!

You're assuming I'm smart enough to bring a pair of boots or shoes wth. I wore sandles driving and left them in the truck. I'll be much wiser or less stubborn the next time. BTW, where did you guys go Alpine?

I hiked eight miles on the Boreas Pass Road just to get in two miles of kick and glide and a few runs on Boreas Mountain....IN MY AT BOOTS I have blisters like mad on my instep and somehow tweaked my right groin from hiking so far with a mondo backpack and my Tuas on my pack because there was almost no snow. BTW my AT boots are Scarpa Tornados. Things weigh a friggin ton. Great for advance skiing and not bad for kicking steps (they take getting used to). Dust on crust conditions and the runs on what little patches of snow that were to be found were a blast. But not worth the suffering (actually wished I smoked pot to mellow out the sufferfest on the way back) So has anybody else hiked in their AT boots as far for a few runs? Or am I the dumbest man on the planet?

Even though I don't own a pair (not compatable with my boots), everybody I talk to says Dynafit. Go for them. I've discovered that skiing in mountaineering boots is like taking a VW Bug on a race track.

I was going to suggest Powerline Wall for the date climb. Afterwards watch the sunset from the madrone trees at the top. One of the best sunset spots in the world. I do have to say that ZigZag is a pretty mellow place for a date climb.

I love seeing the locals in the photos. It's fairly surreal to read the "yep decided to go cragging" reports from someplace completely different from anything you ever see. I guess its tough to replace a cam if you drop it though.

There have been a number of impressive lines skied this year, posing a question. So are skiers just getting bolder, the equipment getting better, combo of both? Or is Ross just a complete bad ass who has primatives pygmies in a remote island worshipping him as a God?

Because cutting switchbacks leads to errosion. Don't you read the signs at the trailhead?

Put down the hookah and type with both hands.

Yellow Aster Butte, Goat Mtn, Elbow Lake by Twin Sisters. Just a few that come to mind for snhoes

Ditto!!