Boulder Climbing Community

For the current website go to: www.boulderclimbers.org/

In 2014 this was the official website for the Boulder Climbing Community.

Content is from the site's 2014 archived pages



For the most up to date news about the Boulder Climbing Community go to their current website at:www.boulderclimbers.org/.

Boulder Climbing Community

Stewardship… Community… Activism…

About The Boulder Climbing Community

The Boulder Climbing Community is a non-profit organization that connects and supports climbers, climbing organizations, land managers, and businesses in the Boulder area, in order to protect and care for the climbing areas we love. We accomplish this mission through the BCC E-News, the BCC website and Facebook page, live events at local venues, and stewardship projects out in the climbing areas. In the spring of 2014 the BCC launched the Front Range Climbing Stewards (FRCS) program in partnership with the Access Fund. At the core of the FRCS is a 3-man full-time trail crew that builds and restores climbing access trails in climbing areas all over the front range.

The BCC was founded in 2010 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. As the Local Climbing Organization (LCO) for the Boulder area we are closely affiliated with the American Alpine Club (www.americanalpineclub.org/) and the Access Fund (www.accessfund.org/) and we have a joint membership program with the Access Fund. We work closely with area land managers, including Boulder County Parks and Open Space, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Jefferson County Open Space, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service, and we support the work of the Action Committee for Eldorado (ACE) and the Flatirons Climbing Council (FCC). Our 15-member Board of Directors meets every other month, and meetings are open to everyone (see below)

Our Board of Directors

Steve Williams

Jean Dempsey

Seth Musulin – Legal Counsel

Ty Tyler

Steve Levin

Chris Weidener

Evan Deis – Secretary

Scott Massey – Chairperson

Craig Hoffman – IT Coordinator

Jason Haas – Fixed Anchor Coordinator

Jim Illg

Tony Bubb – Volunteer Coordinator

Bill Briggs – Treasurer

Greg German – ACE representative

To be filled - FCC Representative

Operations Manager: Roger Briggs

Next Board Meetings:

7:00 pm, Weds, August 6, 2014 – Access Fund Offices, 207 Canyon, Suite 201, Boulder

7:00 pm, Weds, October 1, 2014 - Access Fund Offices, 207 Canyon, Suite 201, Boulder

NOTE: In March of 2015 there will be open seats on the BCC Board. If you’re interested in serving, please contact us (below).

Contact us at:

boulderclimbingcommunity@gmail.com

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Closure Update – March 30, 2014

Each year from February 1 to July 31 some climbing crags are closed to protect nesting raptors. We will post the most current closure information for Eldorado Canyon, The Flatirons, and Boulder Canyon as it becomes available.

Eldorado Canyon

Shirttail Peak is closed, but everything else is open (including the Naked Edge and Anthill Direst).

The Flatirons

Summary of closed areas:

Lefthand Canyon Palisades , at the intersection of Lefthand Canyon Drive and Olde Stage Road (Buckingham picnic area remains open)

, at the intersection of Lefthand Canyon Drive and Olde Stage Road (Buckingham picnic area remains open) Mount Sanitas, First Buttress (no closures to the bouldering areas along the ridge; Mount Sanitas trail will remain open)

(no closures to the bouldering areas along the ridge; Mount Sanitas trail will remain open) Flagstaff Mountain: the north side of Flagstaff Mountain will be closed (the Boy Scout Trail will remain open)

will be closed (the Boy Scout Trail will remain open) Third Flatiron , including the East and West Ironing Boards, Queen Anne’s Head and Jaws, and WC Pinnacle

, including the East and West Ironing Boards, Queen Anne’s Head and Jaws, and WC Pinnacle Skunk Canyon , including Ridges 2, 3 and 4, the Aechean Pronouncement, the Dreadnaught, the North Ridge and the entirety of Sacred Cliffs

, including Ridges 2, 3 and 4, the Aechean Pronouncement, the Dreadnaught, the North Ridge and the entirety of Sacred Cliffs The Back Porch and The Box

Der Zerkle, Finger Flatiron, the Hand and Shark’s Fin

Bear Creek Spire

Fern Canyon (the designated Fern Canyon hiking trail will remain open)

(the designated Fern Canyon hiking trail will remain open) The Sphinx and The Wings

Shadow Canyon and the Matron (the Maiden will remain open and accessible from the east; Shadow Canyon Trail will remain open)

(the Maiden will remain open and accessible from the east; Shadow Canyon Trail will remain open) The entire Mickey Mouse wall

Boulder Canyon

The Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests implemented its annual area closures at Blob Rock, East Blob Rock, and Bitty Buttress in Boulder Canyon on February 1 to protect golden eagles during their nesting season. These areas are located along State Highway 119 approximately 1.5 miles east of Boulder Falls.

Eagle Rock, Happy Hour, Security Risk, Bihedral, and Riviera are all open.

The closures help protect a long-established golden eagle nesting territory, including vital alternate nest sites. Undisturbed access to multiple nest sites is important for birds of prey, especially early in the nesting season, to give them a chance to visit multiple nests during courtship and to select a site for the season, free of human influence. “Closures in Boulder Canyon are vitally important to protect one of only a handful of known golden eagle nesting territories in Boulder County. Their specific habitat needs limit what areas they can use for mating and fledging their young,” said Sylvia Clark, Boulder District Ranger. Contact Boulder Ranger District at 303-541-2500 for more information.

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Climbing Stewards Trail Crew Begins Royal Arch Project … and WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Posted on: August 24th, 2014 by rbriggs

After a successful five months of work in Eldorado, culminating with the amazing Darkness til Dawn project, the Front Range Climbing Stewards (FRCS) have moved on to the Royal Arch Trail rebuild for the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. We are looking for trail volunteers who want to be a part of getting this.

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The Golden Age of Free Climbing, with Pat Ament

Posted on: July 24th, 2014 by rbriggs

8:00 pm, Thursday August 7 at Neptune Mountaineering

This is a show you don’t want to miss!

Pat Ament was the premier free climber in the mid-later 1960s in Colorado and also did the first 5.11 climb in Yosemite in 1967.

A university gymnast, he was John Gill’s main partner and for years was master of the boulders on Flagstaff Mountain.

Jim McCarthy, American Alpine Club president emeritus, says,

“Pat Ament is the poet laureate of American climbing.” Indeed a serious practicing poet and author, Pat’s many books are all out of print and now collector items. “Master of Rock,” the great classic among them, has won awards and literally inspired and changed the entire climbing world.

Pat has won awards for film, including the Best Spirit Award at Telluride and special achievement awards at the Anthon Film Festival in Austria and from the University of Geneva. In thecompany of Lynn Hill and John Bachar, a few years back, Pat was given a lifetime achievement award. He was the 2013 inductee into the Boulder Sports Hall of Fame. A legend, Pat Ament will bring to Neptune a spirit you won’t forget. Pat has suffered health problems in the last few years, and it is important we support him. Through the years he has given immeasurable amounts to the climbing community, not to mention having taught many of the best climbers in the area. He authored the first guidebook to Boulder and Eldorado, High Over Boulder.

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Joe’s Valley Fundraiser: The Spot, 7:00 pm Wednesday, July 30

Posted on: July 24th, 2014 by rbriggs

Joe’s Valley Needs Your Cash Step up CO, let’s help UT pay for the pottys! Have you ever climbed at Joe’s? How about any of your friends? Being one of the most popular bouldering areas in the U.S., Joe’s Valley receives many thousands of climber visits every year. To service

Joe’s Valley Needs Your Cash

Step up CO, let’s help UT pay for the pottys!

Have you ever climbed at Joe’s? How about any of your friends?

Being one of the most popular bouldering areas in the U.S., Joe’s Valley receives many thousands of climber visits every year. To service all the human waste that comes from those visitors there are just two port-a-pottys. For the past six years the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance has paid up to $2,500 each year to maintain them. There also is a push to install a permanent toilet, and the process begins with a $13,000 land assessment. To pull all that off this year, the SLCA still needs to raise $4,600. Since Colorado climbers are a large percentage of the traffic at Joe’s, it’s time for us to step up and help out. That’s why the Boulder Climbing Community spear-headed this event.

And that’s where YOU come in.

To help, all you need to do is join us at The Spot the evening of Wednesday, July 30th. We will be hosting a huge outdoor gear sale as well as multimedia presentations from Jason Kehl, Jon Glassberg (Louder Than 11), Peter Beal and others. For a modest entrance fee you’ll get a burrito, beer, lemonade, a raffle ticket (over $5,000 of stuff!) and that great feeling inside knowing you helped out.

PLANNING TO ATTEND? TELL US ON FACEBOOK!

WHEN: Wednesday July 30th, doors open at 7pm

WHERE: The parking lot behind The Spot (east side)

COST: $12 includes drinks, food, raffle ticket! $20 includes Spot day pass!

WHO: You and all your friends!

Don’t forget to bring chairs, blankets or crashpads for seating in a parking lot.

AND BRING EXTRA CASH to help Joe’s! Only $20 gets you an “arms length” of extra raffle tickets to increase your odds in the $5000 raffle! And we’re hosting a HUGE gear sale (10% of all sales go to Joes!):

BRING YOUR OWN GEAR TO SELL! 10% goes to Joes! Bring your used gear (with your name and prices on each piece if possible) and we’ll put it on the table and try to sell it for you. Doors open for gear consignors at 6p and it is advised to arrive early before main doors open at 7p.

10% goes to Joes! Bring your used gear (with your name and prices on each piece if possible) and we’ll put it on the table and try to sell it for you. Doors open for gear consignors at 6p and it is advised to arrive early before main doors open at 7p. GEAR Movementis offering 70% off MSRP on tons of Mammut gear and more

Wilderness Exchangewill be offering deals on a bunch of great inventory

Others… contact usif you want to show up with a table to sell stuff!

DID WE MENTION THE JOE’S THEME MINI COMP? Our ace setters will present you with a handful of problems modeled after actual classic Joe’s Valley boulder problems. For $5 you get to enter the mini comp, and for every problem you send you’ll get an entry in a raffle for a pair of LaSportiva shoes! Best of all, the cash all goes to Joe’s!

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The Tribe Gathers: A Tribute to Jeff Lowe

Posted on: June 11th, 2014 by rbriggs

Join together to help support climbing legend, Jeff Lowe with an evening of

films, friends, music, memories & sneak peaks … and Special Live Auction with Timmy O’Neill.

Event Date: June 24, 2014 at the Boulder High School Auditorium.

6:00 – 7:00 – Meet, greet & socialize.

7:00 – Films and celebration begin.

All proceeds go to supporting Jeff’s 24/7 home care needs.

Join Jeff Lowe, Lynn Hill, Jon Krakauer, Josh Wharton, Will Gadd, Timmy O’Neill, George Lowe, Greg Lowe, Mark Wilford, Steve Grossman, Mike Weis, Scott Thorburn, Teri Ebel, and more, as they pay tribute to friend and climbing legend Jeff Lowe.

See excerpts from the following films: Cloudwalker, Trango Tower, First World Cup Climbing Championships in the USA at Snowbird, and new scenes from the upcoming film Jeff Lowe’s Metanoia. Live performance by Chuck Grossman, a new Reel Rock Trailer ,and more … Don’t miss the festivities!

Tickets available online: http://shop.americanalpineclub.org/products/jeff-lowe-event for $15 or $20 at the door.

To make a tax deductible donation, please go to click here. Click the Paypal button about half way down.

For more information about Jeff or the event please go to jeffloweclimber.com

Sponsored by The Boulder Climbing Community and The American Alpine Club

I didn't recognize Jeff before we met on the trail to the Upper 2 By 4. He was camping with his dog Traitor. I'm a huge fan and know his face from the posts, but didn't make the jump to the actual face. We talked for a very long time about everything, but the thing I remember was the fact that instead of packing light, he lugged around this large round dog bed for Traitor. This was a very special bed, one that was purchased online from an actual high end dog bed store. So not only is it a large bulky pillow, but it's made using designer fabrics - for his dog! Truth be told I like this about him. Traitor was a rescue dog that didn't sleep well until he bought this bed. If he doesn't pack it, a dog will be awake all night and that is not good. Sam Taylor

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REI Grant Award to BCC

Posted on: May 28th, 2014 by Craig Hoffman

Each year REI awards grants “to grow and enhance perse, accessible, and popular outdoor recreation places where our members recreate.” This year Boulder Climbing Community applied for an REI grant and was awarded $5000. As outlined in its proposal, BCC will use these funds to further its mission of trail stewardship in the Front Range. BCC work for 2014 will involve projects in Eldorado Canyon, the Flatirons, and Boulder Canyon.

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Front Range Crag Care Seminars

Posted on: April 15th, 2014 by Mike McHugh

Front Range Crag Care is a cooperative venture between Jefferson County Open Space, Eldorado Canyon State Park, the Access Fund, and the Boulder Climbing Community. Through a series of free hands-on workshops, climbers and other trail users are empowered to:

collaborate with land managers

recognize critical trail issues

participate effectively and safely as trail volunteers

understand and communicate common trailbuilding terms and concepts

make choices to build and travel on sustainable trails

find suitable volunteer opportunities

and have entirely too much fun playing in the dirt

In 2014, seminars will be held from 8am – Noon on the fourth Saturday the month, April through October. Seminars will occur in Eldorado Canyon State Park and Jefferson County Open Space.

Spaces are limited. New participants will be given priority over those who have participated in past years’ workshops. Participants may be eligible to count their workshop hours towards a Colorado State Parks volunteer pass.

The seminars feature a very good student-teacher ratio and all instructors are professional trail builders.

The schedule for this summers seminars includes:

April 26th: Trail Design

May 24th: Trail Maintenance

June 28th: Trail Construction

July 26th: Rock Selection and Movement

August 23rd: Building Stone Structures

September 27th: Practicum

October 25th: Practicum

Please join us for a unique opportunity to build trails and shape the future of climbing access!

Mike McHugh

Park Resource Tech

Eldorado Canyon State Park

303.494.0659

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Jeff Lowe Fundraiser

Posted on: March 20th, 2014 by Craig Hoffman

Let’s come together and help a climbing icon. Jeff Lowe, a seminal figure in the history of American climbing and alpinism, needs help. He is the victim of a debilitating and progressive disease that now requires him to have nursing care virtually round the clock. Jeff lived in Boulder for many years and recently moved back to the Boulder area, but he needs help with daunting medical and caregiver expenses. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

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Donate to the Climbing Stewards in Memory of Mark Hesse

Posted on: February 7th, 2014 by rbriggs

One of Mark’s final projects was the Front Range Climbing Stewards program that he helped create. All donations to the Boulder Climbing Community go to the operation of this program for 2014 and beyond. You can donate with PayPal by using the Donate button on the right side of this

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POSTS

The Tribe Gathers: A Tribute to Jeff Lowe

Posted on: June 11th, 2014 by rbriggs

Join together to help support climbing legend, Jeff Lowe with an evening of

films, friends, music, memories & sneak peaks … and Special Live Auction with Timmy O’Neill.

Event Date: June 24, 2014 at the Boulder High School Auditorium.

6:00 – 7:00 – Meet, greet & socialize.

7:00 – Films and celebration begin.

All proceeds go to supporting Jeff’s 24/7 home care needs.

Join Jeff Lowe, Lynn Hill, Jon Krakauer, Josh Wharton, Will Gadd, Timmy O’Neill, George Lowe, Greg Lowe, Mark Wilford, Steve Grossman, Mike Weis, Scott Thorburn, Teri Ebel, and more, as they pay tribute to friend and climbing legend Jeff Lowe.

See excerpts from the following films: Cloudwalker, Trango Tower, First World Cup Climbing Championships in the USA at Snowbird, and new scenes from the upcoming film Jeff Lowe’s Metanoia. Live performance by Chuck Grossman, a new Reel Rock Trailer ,and more … Don’t miss the festivities!

Tickets available online: http://shop.americanalpineclub.org/products/jeff-lowe-event for $15 or $20 at the door.

+++++++++

Front Range Crag Care Seminars

Posted on: April 15th, 2014 by Mike McHugh

Front Range Crag Care is a cooperative venture between Jefferson County Open Space, Eldorado Canyon State Park, the Access Fund, and the Boulder Climbing Community. Through a series of free hands-on workshops, climbers and other trail users are empowered to:

collaborate with land managers

recognize critical trail issues

participate effectively and safely as trail volunteers

understand and communicate common trailbuilding terms and concepts

make choices to build and travel on sustainable trails

find suitable volunteer opportunities

and have entirely too much fun playing in the dirt

In 2014, seminars will be held from 8am – Noon on the fourth Saturday the month, April through October. Seminars will occur in Eldorado Canyon State Park and Jefferson County Open Space.

Spaces are limited. New participants will be given priority over those who have participated in past years’ workshops. Participants may be eligible to count their workshop hours towards a Colorado State Parks volunteer pass.

The seminars feature a very good student-teacher ratio and all instructors are professional trail builders.

The schedule for this summers seminars includes:

April 26th: Trail Design

May 24th: Trail Maintenance

June 28th: Trail Construction

July 26th: Rock Selection and Movement

August 23rd: Building Stone Structures

September 27th: Practicum

October 25th: Practicum

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In the spring of 2013, Boulder Climbing Community launched the Front Range Trail Team. The team fills some vital needs for climbing access trail building around the Boulder area. We’re a professional crew that runs on donations and grants to augment trail building capacity for local land agencies.

Trail Team and some of its handiwork

Who we are: We’re climbers. All of us have logged a lot of hours as volunteer and professional trail builders.

What we do: Climbing access trails, like climbers, can be a little different. Due to the terrain next to crags, we focus on stone structures. We build a lot of stone stairs, rubble walls, crib walls, and staging areas for climbs.

Stairs in Progress

How we work: We’re adept at selecting and shaping stone.

Nicely split stone.

Once we’ve found material to work with, we’ve got some tricks to move it exactly where we want it. We frequently use a skyline to move heavy rocks – besides being ridiculously fun, it lets us work with a smaller crew and do minimal damage to the surrounding slopes.

300-pounder on the line.

Philosophy: Communities build trails, and trails build communities.

BCC trail event volunteers.

We believe that a collaboration of land managers, private crews, and volunteer groups can build great trails.

BoulderClimbingCommunity.net