Photos

SOME RANDOM PHOTOS FROM CRAGGING AT SHELF ROAD

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Date: October 20, 2019 (Sun)

Partner: Brad White

Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, Spiney Ridge

Routes (ordered by grade):
• LaCholla Jackson 5.8+
• Cheers 5.8+
• Damn Right I’ve Got the Moves 5.8+
• Morning Joe 5.9
• Stone of Ignorance 5.9+
• Rocky, You’ve Met Your Match 5.10b, trad (or toprope)
• 20th Century Man 5.10b
• Cactus Cliff Addict 5.10d
• Et Tu, Brutus? 5.10d
• Hero Driver 5.10d
• Access all Areas 5.10d
• I Claudius 5.11a/b

Weather was looking a bit cold and windy at any location closer to Boulder, so it was a good opportunity to check out Shelf Road. Fellow math enthusiast Brad and I spent the day cragging on moderates in the sun at Cactus Cliff area. I should title this mini trip report "Finding the bolted cracks at Cactus Cliff" since that's what we seemed to climb the most of. I guess I cannot resist a crack when I see one. Overall, I found the climbing quite engaging and I enjoyed the opportunity to climb on limestone. I'll be back!

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Dates: December 7&8, 2019 (Sat&Sun)

Partner: Nate Mankovitch

Climbed at: Sand Gulch, The Gallery, The Vault

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Protect the King 5.9-
• Opportunist, The 5.9
• Chip Off the 'Ol Block 5.9
• Unnamed crack to right of Phase Dance ~5.9, trad (or toprope)
• Enterprise 5.9+
• My Testosterone Poisoned Friend 5.10a
• Anguish and Fear 5.10a
• Block Party 5.10a
• Los Pepes 5.10a
• Flight Simulator 5.10b/c
• Tryptophan 5.10c
• List, The 5.10c/d
• Deconstruction Ahead ~5.10, trad (or toprope)
• Hide N' Seek 5.11a/b
• Phase Dance 5.12a
• Jewel of the Wild 5.12a
• Family Jewels 5.12ab

Second trip to Shelf Road.

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Date: February 8, 2020 (Sat)

Partner: Natalie Huey

Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, Spiney Ridge

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Toxxxic Entertainment 5.10a
• Raven w/ Total Recount finish 5.10b
• Book of Dude-Aronomy, The 5.10b/c
• Nalalator 5.10c
• Down n' Dirty 5.10c
• Funkdemental 5.11a/b

Climbing the day after a snow storm.

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Date: February 16, 2020 (Sun)

Partner: Joe Trabucco

Climbed at: The Bank

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Poncho and the Three Perverts 5.8
• Dillinger 5.9
• Gambino 5.9
• Sty in the Sky 5.9
• Shellfish 5.9+
• New Comer 5.9+
• 2010A 5.10a
• Sweepings, The 5.10a
• Crab Nation 5.10b
• Jasonbecker.com 5.10b
• Knot Too Many Roaches 5.10b

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Dates: November 26-28, 2020 (Thu-Sat)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The Gallery, Sand Gulch

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Protect the King 5.9-
• Killer Queen 5.9
• Barney 5.9+
• Maximum Security 5.9+
• Block Party 5.10a
• Unknown between Anguish and Fear and Block party 5.10a
• Black Rib 5.10a
• Moroccan Roll 5.10b
• Taos Hum 5.10b
• Big Froggy 5.10b
• Castrator 5.10b
• Bourgeois Belay Dogs 5.10b/c
• Holy Sheath 5.10c
• Pesco Sour 5.11a
• Village Idiot 5.11b
• Minimum Security 5.11c

Thanksgiving 2020 at Shelf Road! I was recovering from knee surgery and I was expecting to attempt to climb one route, have the knee feel kinda tweaky, and spend the rest of the trip belaying. But over the course of 2.5 days I ended up climbing 16 pitches on toprope, mostly 5.9-5.10 with a few of 5.11's. I was definitely far from top form as I was too cautious to do any weird movement or use small footholds with my right foot. Nice to be back on the rock though!

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Dates: November 19-21, 2021 (Fri-Sun)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, The Vault, Sand Gulch

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Crynoid Corner 5.7
• Spike 5.9
• Tensile Town 5.9
• Banana Split 5.9+
• Barney 5.9+
• Forty Two and No Rinkhals 5.9+/10a
• Zia 5.9+/10a
• Taos Hum 5.10b
• Killer Toupee, The 5.10b
• Big Froggy 5.10b
• Blackman's Burden 5.10b/c
• Funny Money 5.10b/c
• Holy Sheath 5.10c
• Three Quarter Ton 5.10c
• River of Rabbits 5.11a
• Silverado 5.11b
• Turbo Toad 5.11c
• Trick or Treat 5.11c

It had been a year since either Nate or I had been to Shelf, so it was time to return. I took off work on Friday and we enjoyed three days of steep limestone sport climbing in the sun and three nights hanging out in Nate's cozy 10x14 Canvas tent hotel and making dinner, reading, watching episodes of Yellowstone, and munching on peanut butter M&Ms. We climbed over 20 pitches from 5.9-5.11. Hard leading by Nate. Having climbed mostly moderate routes this fall (I was recovering from Covid-19), it felt nice to get pumped and challenged. Quite an enjoyable weekend all around!

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Dates: December 11&12, 2021 (Sat&Sun)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The Gallery, Sand Gulch

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Boss Method, The 5.8
• First Blood 5.8
• Dumb Waiter 5.9+
• Zia 5.9+/10a
• Bad Service 5.10a
• Pueblo Gringos 5.10a
• Smart Server 5.10a
• Love Pump 5.10b
• Turbo Charged Intercooled Meat Machine 5.10b
• Big Chill, The 5.10c
• Jumbo Pumping Love 5.10d
• Menses 5.10d
• Pedestrian Gene Pool 5.11a/b
• Monster Man 5.11b
• Village Idiot 5.11b
• You Snooze You Lose 5.11d

Another fun weekend sport climbing at Shelf Road. For this trip we did more of a smash-n-grab style, driving down early Saturday morning, sleeping in the back of the truck on Saturday night, and doing a mileage day of climbing Saturday and a shorter day of harder routes on Sunday before driving back to Boulder/Estes Park by mid-afternoon. Daytime highs in the 40's and nighttime lows in the teens kept the crowds away, but it was quite pleasant climbing on the sunny rock.

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Date: February 5, 2022 (Sat)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: Cactus Cliff

Routes (ordered by grade):
• You Show Me Your Heavy Weapon, I'll Show You Mine 5.7
• LaCholla Jackson 5.8+
• Ol Four-Seven 5.9
• Quarterback 5.10a
• Red Eclipse 5.10b
• Amiga 5.10b/c
• Politically Incorrect 5.10c
• Candy for Big Kids 5.10d
• I Claudius 5.11a/b
• I Lean 5.11a/b

The forecast at Shelf on Saturday called for highs in the mid 40's, no wind, no clouds, and overnight lows in the teens. The forecast at home (Boulder/Estes Park) called for 55 mph winds and wind chill as low as -22°F. So it sounded like a good weekend for Shelf Road. Due to the low overnight temperatures and a slight laziness on our part, we decided to get a cheap hotel in Canon City. On Saturday we climbed 10 pitches at Cactus Cliff. On Sunday we woke up to unexpected snow falling from the sky so we had to head back home. But it was good to get in one day of climbing in the sun in t-shirts.

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Dates: February 26&27, 2022 (Sat&Sun)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, The Bank, Sand Gulch

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Pig City Nights 5.8
• Times Square 5.8
• Chompin' At The Cholla 5.9
• Awakenings 5.9
• Fully Equipped 5.9+
• It Takes a Village 5.9+
• Gotham City 5.9+
• Six More Bottles of 'Basco 5.10a
• Jasonbecker.com 5.10b
• Early Bird 5.10b
• Lick and a Promise 5.10c
• Redman's Burden 5.10c
• Heaven is Waiting 5.10+
• Musso Route 5.11a
• Lime and Punishment 5.11c

It was another weekend where the local crags were cold and dusted in the week's snowfall, but the forecast looked nice at Shelf Road. With the cold overnight temperatures and my need to do some school work in the evening and early morning, Nate and I decided to stay at a cheap hotel in Canon City. We climbed 17 pitches of 5.9-5.11c. The rock was dry and the recent snows cut down the crowds a bit. Another fun weekend of winter cragging!

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Date: March 5, 2022 (Sat)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The New Gym, Spiney Ridge

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Cheers 5.8+
• Ga-Stoned Again 5.9
• Leaning Tower 5.10b/c
• Shorty Bob 5.10c
• Tractatus 5.11a
• Return of the Headhunters 5.11a/b
• Cornerstone 5.11a/b
• Green Grenade 5.11b
• Raw and the Roasted, The 5.11b/c

A totally worth it one-day-10-pitch-have-campground-to-ourselves-because-of-forecasted-snowstorm-enjoy-campfire-and-good-dinner-good-nighs-sleep-coffee-at-Starbucks-drive-home-in-snowstorm trip to Shelf.

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Dates: March 23-25, 2022 (Wed-Fri)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The Bank, The Gym, Spiney Ridge, Cactus Cliff

Routes (ordered by grade):
• All That Was 5.9
• Morning Joe 5.9
• White Punks on Pockets 5.9
• Raven 5.9+
• B/C 5.9+
• Deconstructing Harry 5.9+
• T.A.R.P. (Tired Arms Recovery Program) 5.9+
• From Russia With Love 5.10a
• Toxxxic Entertainment 5.10a
• Travis is Sole King 5.10a
• Trout Fishing 5.10a
• Tree Trimmer 5.10a
• Crack of Dawn 5.10b
• Relampago 5.10b
• Richard Simmon's Tank Top 5.10c
• Down n' Dirty 5.10c
• 2150 AD 5.10d
• Stick It 5.11a
• Funkdemental 5.11a/b
• Lime Street 5.11b
• Back To The Future 5.11b/c
• Gym Arete 5.12ab
• Hurricane, The 5.12b

Nate and I were on a 1-week climbing trip for Spring Break, and on the way back from four days of sandstone splitters in Paradox Valley we stopped at Shelf Road for 2.5 days of climbing on our way back home. 23 routes and about 30 pitches of climbing.

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Date: April 23, 2022 (Sat)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The Vault, The Bank

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Hicks, Hillbillies, and Hobos 5.7+
• Chip Off the 'Ol Block 5.9
• Flight Simulator 5.10b/c
• Aerial Solution 5.10c
• Tottering into Antiquity 5.10c/d
• Stress Rehearsal 5.10d
• Pennies From Heaven 5.11a
• Dancing Shoes 5.11a
• Illusions 5.11a/b
• Ethics, What Ethics 5.11b
• No Rest for the Wicked 5.12a/b (with lots of hangs)

Blizzard in Estes Park and Boulder, so we headed to Shelf for another fun day of clipping bolts. 13 pitches in one day!

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Dates: April 29&30 & May 1, 2022 (Fri-Sun)

Partners: Nate Arganbright, Shawn May

Climbed at: The Gallery, Sand Gulch

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Coldcocked 5.9
• Enterprise 5.9+
• Cry for Love, The 5.10a
• Shelfie 5.10b
• Hair Today Gone Tomorrow 5.10d
• Cactus Drop 5.10d
• Three Holes Make A Face 5.10d
• Flakeus Maximus 5.11a
• Morpheus 5.11a
• Apple Jam Crack 5.11ab
• Regroovable 5.11b
• Living in a Vaccuum 5.11a/11c
• Apple Bites Back, The 5.11c
• Wading Through A Ventilator 5.11d
• M&M 5.12a
• Have A Blast 5.12a
• Thick As Thieves 5.12a
• Far Sky, The 5.12ab

Another fun 2.5 day trip at Shelf. The camping was about as crowded as I've seen it but somehow we managed to avoid the crowds with our area and route selection. It was fun to hang out with Shawn who showed up halfway through our trip when he texted Nate Saturday morning from Estes Park wondering if he was available to climb.

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Dates: May 5-8, 2022 (Thu-Sun)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The Bank, The Vault, Cactus Cliff, The Dark Side

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Sparky 5.8
• Three Old Dogs 5.9
• Lumina 5.9
• 27 Tons 5.10a
• Slot Machine 5.10a
• Shelf Road Virgin 5.10a
• My Testosterone Poisoned Friend 5.10a
• White Dog 5.10a
• Teenage Wristband 5.10a
• Puddle of Holes 5.10a
• Killer Chihuahua 5.10a
• Dihedrus 5.10b
• Third Stage 5.10bc
• Feverish 5.10c
• Tryptophan 5.10c
• Trolling for Holds 5.10cd
• Porkus Procurement 5.10d
• Enchanted Porkfest 5.11a
• Crown of Thorns 5.11a
• Muscle Beach 5.11ab
• Muted By Reality 5.11b
• Staying Power 5.11c
• Thunder Tactics 5.11c
• Welcoming, The 5.11c
• Lats Don't Have Feelings 5.11cd
• Family Jewels 5.12ab

Another spring weekend at Shelf getting strong while waiting for mountain weather to cooperate. We drove down Thursday afternoon, and climbed 30 pitches between Thursday evening and Sunday morning before driving back to Estes Park. Lots of 5.11 pitches. After several weekends at Shelf this spring we are feeling pretty strong for the alpine season ahead!

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Date: November 5, 2022 (Sat)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The Gym, Cactus Cliff

Routes (ordered by grade):
• There Goes the Neighborhood 5.10a
• Pinheads 5.10a
• Trailer Park Logic 5.10a
• Quasi Quasar 5.10a/b
• Agave 5.10b/c
• Paradise Regained 5.10c
• Are you Experiential? 5.10d
• Senior Verde 5.11a
• Whiteman's Burden 5.11c
• Spontaneous Combustion 5.12a

The first significant snow had hit the Front Range on Thursday night, inspiring our first Shelf Road trip of Fall 2022. We had planned to climb both Saturday and Sunday, but on Sunday we woke up to 36°F and cloudy and our fingers made the call to head home. Instead, I crushed some 5.11 autobelays at the Boulder Rock Club.

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Dates: November 19&20, 2022 (Sat&Sun)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, The Bank

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Risky Business 5.9
• Half Breed 5.9+
• Shady Character 5.10a
• Crimpson Candy 5.10ab
• Stand, The 5.10b
• Abu Simbel 5.10b
• Season Down Under 5.10b
• Gen X 5.10b
• Cheeseburger in Paradise 5.10b
• La Temperature De Shelf 5.10b
• Puff Daddy 5.11ab
• Reach Around, The 5.11c
• Almost Gothic 5.11d
• Almost French 5.12a

Daytime temps in the low 30's but the sun makes all the difference! This weekend trip marked our 17th and 18th days at Shelf Road in 2022. 15 pitches, 5.10b to 5.12b.

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Dates: December 3&4, 2022 (Sat&Sun)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The Gallery, Sand Gulch

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Lost in Your Ocean 5.10a
• MJM Route 5.10a
• Crabzilla 5.10c
• Energizer 5.10c
• Sleeps with the Fishes 5.10c
• Armistice 5.10c
• Sockeye 5.10cd
• List, The 5.10cd
• Bitten by a Manpri 5.11a
• Hide N' Seek 5.11ab
• Wild Kippers 5.11ab
• Ludlow Massacre 5.11b

Another fun Shelf weekend: leave Estes Park/Boulder Friday after work to drive down to Shelf Road, camp, climb 10 pitches Saturday, camp, climb 5 pitches Sunday, grab lunch at Burger King and snack at gas station, and drive back to Boulder/Estes Park. This weekend trip marked our 19th and 20th days at Shelf Road in 2022.

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Dates: January 16&17, 2025 (Thu&Fri)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: Cactus Cliff, The Bank

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Beach Ball 5.9-
• Too Much Beef and Not Enough Meat 5.9
• Oscar De La Cholla 5.9
• Pink Torpedo 5.9+
• Dihedrus 5.10b
• Jasonbecker.com 5.10b
• Killer Toupee, The 5.10b
• Third Stage 5.10bc
• Heaven is Waiting 5.10+
• Musso Route 5.11a
• Muscle Beach 5.11ab
• Dereliction Affliction 5.11b
• Puking Yuppies 5.11c

It had been over two years since Nate and I had climbed at Shelf Road. We had climbed there for 20 days in 2022, and not a single day in 2023 or 2024. I had a trip to Spain coming up in February, and it seemed like time to revist the Shelf Road limestone. We went on a Thursday and Friday, since a big winter storm was forecasted for the weekend. It was nice to have the sunny Shelf all to ourselves!

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Dates: January 23&24, 2025 (Thu&Fri)

Partner: Nate Arganbright

Climbed at: The Bank, Spiney Ridge

Routes (ordered by grade):
• Cheers 5.8+
• Damn Right I’ve Got the Moves 5.8+
• Sugar and Spice 5.9
• 2112 5.9+
• Deconstructing Harry 5.9+
• Ripped 5.10a
• 20th Century Man 5.10b
• 2150 AD 5.10d
• Access all Areas 5.10d
• Stick It 5.11a
• Tractatus 5.11a
• Return of the Headhunters 5.11a/b
• Lime Street 5.11b
• Lost Planet Airmen 5.11c
• Purple Toenails 5.11c

Back again the following week! Climbing Thurs/Fri and working the weekend.