Rock Climbing

Hey, I'm a big fan of Rock Climbing, I love doing it, it's exilirating when you get to the top of your wall/cliff/boulder and It also very rewarding health-wise. I really think it's a great sport to get into and it's loads of fun so please discuss here and if there are any questions about Rock Climbing go ahead and ask and I'll do my best to Answer them.

-Jimmie

I went a-climbing today and it was really fun, I'm a bit sore but I'm just getting back into it after not having done it for most of the winter. Rock Climbing is really good for your joints and mobility. I'm looking forward to hearing about some of you folks out there

A fellow climber - how cool! Yes, nothing like the view from the top.

I see you're from Jackson Hole...do you climb mostly in the Tetons? It's one of my favorite places...so beautiful. I've been up on the glacier on the Grand a couple of times to play on the ice.

When I lived back east, I did a lot of climbing in W VA, PA, NY. and WY (Tetons, Seneca Rocks, The Shawangunks, Adirondacks, Catskills, Rickets Glen etc). There was a small group of us who would throw all our gear in the back of an old beater Bronco and we'd just head out for the weekend. In the winter, we'd go ice climbing and x-c skiing and do technical rock in the summer.

When I moved out west to CO, I left my partner behind in PA and haven't done much climbing since. Ironic, eh, now I that I live in a climber's paradise. I have done some ice in the past few years but that's about it other than some bouldering.

What are your favorite spots to climb? What are your favorite "toys" in your rack?
What is your favorite level of technical climb?

Ever consider getting into ice climbing?

Wow, sorry I didn't notice your posts earlier, I haven't really considered Ice Climbing, but maybe I should give it a try next year. This is about my first year climbing, so I haven't done a great deal, but I've done some out in the tetons, like Guides Wall in Cascade Canyon and a couple routes in the Snake river Canyon, it's still snowy for the most part in the Nat'l Park but when It drys out I'm gonna be the first person out there. My preferred level is about 5.9b but I'll go to about 5.11
What about you what kind of places do you like to climb? What's your favorite level?

When I was in the Military I was on the Search and Rescue squad. Off post tourist's' could become climbers by renting equipment. The second most common call was to get one or more people out of a bad situation on a cliff face. we cheated in that we went to the top by helicopter and worked our way down. Getting people who were afraid, injured or worse back down was the hard part. Once that was accomplished some had to go back up and pull all of the equipment. I would like to be in that physical condition again but with my knowledge today I probably would have second thoughts about doing it over.

My daughter says I am a gutsy old f-rt so who knows.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

Favorite places? There are lots. If I had to pick the top two though, I'd probably say the Tetons and Seneca Rocks, W Va.

I've been up on the glacier on the Grand Teton twice (via Ampitheater Lake and all 20+ switchbacks - ugh) and practiced some ice work up there. No technical rock though, just bouldering alot on the moraine field. The rocks are plenty big for that. I think one has to hire a guide to go up on the Grand itself? I am content to play on the rocks though. I've been hiking up through Cascade and Paintbrush Canyons but have done no official climbing there.

In CO, I like to ice climb on Lincoln Falls (near Breckenridge), Officer's Gulch (near Silverthorne), Silver Plume, and near Boulder Falls. Vail and Ouray are the big places to go but they are usually very crowded...not my thing. I would like to check out a place sometime called Gillette...the hike back in with a full rack is tortuous (3 mi) but I hear the ice is well worth it...and there aren't many climbers.

For regular rock climbing, just about any canyon west of Denver has numerous ascents, lots of places for top-roping, etc. I like the FlatIrons just out of Boulder since it isn't a long drive, the routes are on the easy side and the view is great. There are also lots of good routes in Rocky Mountain Natl. Park (particularly Longs Peak) and down towards the Springs near Garden of the Gods.

We still have snow (and they just got more) in the high country too so most routes are still inaccessible.

My favorite level for rock is generally in the low 5's. I do more complicated routes on ice as I am more comfortable with that...but still, nothing extreme. Working (read: sitting all day) makes it harder to stay in shape although I run when I can. I used to try to advance my skill level every season but now am content with just having fun at this point.

It does indeed take a lot of guts to do search and rescue. People get themselves into some really weird situations and it takes a lot of skill and courage to get them out because one often has to put oneself at risk. I've heard climber's tell stories about some pretty harrowing rescues in regards to the crews.

All I know is, if I ever got into a situation like that, I'd be very happy to see everyone and would be forever thankful.

(and gutsy old f-rts are the best kind IMO)

We always tried to get everyone, injured or not, into a basket for our safety. They eventually made the practice of wholesale renting of equipment illegal. That happened after I left. My experience was in Colorado. I would be interested in knowing if Ft, Carson still has a team or participates in rescue efforts. This brings back a lot of memories..

Slàinte,    

Patch    

Let me ask around and see...I know there is a group who still do search and rescue (particuarly up in Summit County) but I am not sure of the group from Ft. Carson. I also thought the 10th Mtn. Division was still here but then someone said they moved them to Vermont?

The renting of equipment to non-experienced climbers IMO is just asking for problems...especially with the level of technical difficulty one can get into here. It's way too easy to get seriously injured.

I bet they put you through quite a rigorous training course for doing mountain rescue...none of what I have seen was anywhere near easy.

Thank you. Our group was formed originally to find helicopter crashes and retrieve the occupants. When I left the military I moved to the other side of the divide,took the training and got a pilots license. The lost hikers, hunters and the occasional plane crash were the norm.

Thanks again

Slàinte,    

Patch    

I know the Fort Carson team was still operating back in 1989 or '90. We called them in pluck a dead hang glider off the south face of Mt. Crested Butte.

I had a rather bad experience with a M.A.S.T. pilot out of Carson back in '83 or so. Cowboy thought it would be way cool to show off to the civilian paramedic who dared called him away from his lunch to respond to a cardiac arrest. Two weeks later he was attempting a show-boat body recovery in a narrow canyon, had a rotor strike and killed himself and his crew, including the best damned paramedic the army had at the time.

I've used helicopters a lot during my career, and usually the military guys are the best, with the best equipment for the job. That being said, I never fly in a helicopter unless it is the only option available to provide proper care to the patient. If another medic wants to go she or he can have that free ride.

On a rescue, it's always easier and safer to work from the top down if at all possible. Sometimes it just isn't possible.

Swanny

We had the 7th Sky Cav. on post when I was there. We cleaned up after some of them. They may still be there today. They did have some cowboys back then too! Some of them thought they were much better pilots than they actually were. To this day, I feel uneasy flying in helicopters.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

All I was able to find was a phone number for Ft. Carson Search and Rescue but I don't know if they are still doing mountain rescue or not. I found an article dated 1995 about the El Paso County S&R team rescuing five stranded servicemen from Ft. Carson who were stuck on top of Pikes Peak during a training exercise. If the Ft. Carson group is still there, I am not seeing any mention of them. Doesn't mean they aren't however.

If you have the number, I might just try calling. Thank you very much. That has been MANY YEARS ago.

Slàinte,    

Patch