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nicklambert
Jan 26, 2004, 10:19 PM
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Hi, I have the undeniable pleasure of a visit to Colorado in four weeks to which I am looking forward. I am visiting friends who are not climbers, but one has emailed me thus; "Also our local sports clothing store has a huge climbing wall in it and I think you are just the man to try it out for us." Given that he lives in Westminster, Colorado, which shop is this to which he refers? Does it have a website? He continues, "Although Boulder is famous for its outdoor climbing, most of it is probably too cold at this time of year." Just out of interest, is this true? (The 'too cold' bit.) Thanks for any information (particularly regarding the climbing gym). Nick L
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atg200
Jan 26, 2004, 10:24 PM
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a couple of climbing stores near boulder have walls in them. they all have unimaginative routes and tons of kiddies running around. better to go to a real gym like paradise in denver, or the boulder rock club in boulder. you never know with the weather. i was climbing in boulder canyon in a sweater on friday, but today there is a couple of inches of snow on the ground.
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crankenstein
Jan 26, 2004, 10:27 PM
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He's probably referring to the wall at Galyan's in Foothills mall. It's about 50 feet tall. As far as cold, I climbed outdoors Saturday in 45 degree and sunny weather and then it snowed 6" the next day. Many days are warm enough to climb outside, but then many are not.
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petsfed
Jan 26, 2004, 11:14 PM
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Good old Galyans. I remember going there in high school just to watch the employees nearly drop the ankle biters as they lowered them off. Given, they were using gri-gris (I can only assume because of insurance reasons) but I've never seen so many things done wrong in such a short amount of time. Standing on the rope, completely turning loose with the break hand, giving sport loops while flirting with the girl waiting in line... It was a good time. For what its worth, if you want quality climbing while in the Boulder area, and don't want to freeze your tail off, Rockin' and Jammin' is a good place, for not too expensive.
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nicklambert
Jan 27, 2004, 8:26 PM
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Thanks guys, that's useful to know. Cheers, Nick
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phaedrus
Jan 27, 2004, 8:34 PM
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There are three gyms within an easy drive of Boulder that I would recommend: The Spot in Boulder Rock'n and Jam'n in Thornton and Paradise Rock Gym in Denver There is also Boulder Rock Club in Boulder, but I've never been impressed with it- too many condescending attitudes and a general feeling of not being real open to new people there. Just my $.02
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jcinco
Jan 27, 2004, 9:06 PM
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Winter can be a great time of year to rock climb in the Front Range. Unlike a lot of other mountain locations in Colorado and Utah, we get lots of sunny warm winter days (between nasty arctic blasts). If the sun's out and the high temp is at least 45 degrees in town, you can climb comfortably on sunny walls in the Boulder area in winter. I've climbed outside comfortably on the past 3 saturdays at Eldo and Boulder Canyon, as well as Wunschs on MLK day (though it was a little colder than I might like on Cynical Pinnacle). The best winter crags near Boulder: Eldo- West Ridge/Rincon/Cadillac Crag (all SW facing) Boulder Canyon- Blob Rock (S-facing), Happy Hour/Security Risk (SW), and Plotinus (SE) are probably the best quality this time of year. South Platte- The Cathedral Spires area is almost all S-facing. Shelf, Table Mountain, and Clear Creek also have good winter options
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atg200
Jan 27, 2004, 9:24 PM
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i'd add the dome in boulder canyon to jcinco's excellent list of warm climbing. i've also gotten away with climbing on the pear at lumpy ridge in low snow years - its fairly sheltered and very sunny. further afield, castlewood canyon has some nice sunny walls and the garden of the gods can be fantastic.
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