Event Reports

Southern Colorado climbing was represented at Tanner Dome the last weekend in March. Climbers from Walsenburg, Pueblo area, and Cotopaxi cruised routes before the annual closure from April to August for raptor nesting.

SoCO CRAG celebrated its 10 year anniversary Sunday, Oct 10 at Pueblo City Park with pizza, ice cream cake, slacklining, cornhole, and giant jenga. Our first meeting was March 15, 2010. SoCO CRAG remains committed to safe fixed hardware, supporting the local climbing community, and local climbing access.

The 6th Annual SoCO CRAG / Pueblo YMCA Community Climbing Competition was held Feb 25, 2018. Kids 6-14 climbed in the morning and adults ages 18+ climb in the afternoon. Scoring was based on a climber’s 5 highest scores from top rope and bouldering combined. The coveted Golden Crimper was  awarded to the highest scoring male and female climbers from the youth and adult categories. Thanks to our sponsors: CSU-Pueblo Outdoor Pursuits, The Edge, REI, Great Divide, Mountain Equipment Recyclers, Mountain Chalet, Superior Lube, Access Fund, Gearonimo, Subway, Pueblo YMCA, Chipotle, City Rock, Pueblo Zoo and Academy Kids Vision.

Tres Piedras, NM    May 12-14    -SoCO CRAG climbers were joined by local stone masters for heady runouts among the chickenheads.

Superb company, camping and climbing was had in the Land of Enchantment.

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Teamwork. Moved some massive boulders, rocks, and lots of dirt in creating two belay platforms at Shelf Road. 2016 SoCO CRAG Adopt-a-Crag/ National Public Lands Day was a success. Thanks to the Pikes Peak Climber’s Alliance, CSU-Pueblo Climbing Team, UCCS SOLE, and BLM for a kick ass time. About 20 volunteers joined in the effort. Makes you realize that every step, platform, and trail at a climbing area was built and needs to be maintained.

The 4th Annual SoCO CRAG / Pueblo YMCA  Community Climbing Competition held  Sunday, April 10, 2016 at the Pueblo YMCA was a success.   Kids 6-17 competed in the morning and adults ages 18+ competed in the afternoon.  Thanks to our sponsors Wendy’s, DMM, REI, and Access Fund. Awards and prizes were given to the top youth and adult climbers. Scoring was based on a climber’s 5 highest scores from top rope and bouldering combined. The highest scoring climbers from kids and adults won the coveted Golden Crimper.

Results from 2016 Community Climbing Competition-

Youth Boys 6-10: 1st Jason Gonzales, 2nd Micah Black

Youth Girls 6-10:1st Zora Malone, 2nd Payton Smith

Tween Boys 11-13: 1st Philip Lopez (Golden Crimper)

Tween Girls 11-13: 1st Alexandria Krenz (Golden Crimper), 2nd Analise Padilla

Men 18-34: 1st Adam Davidson (Golden Crimper), 2nd Zach Smith

Women 18-34: 1st Melinda Rizley (Golden Crimper) , 2nd Rebecca Bersagel

Masters Men 35+: 1st Dru Marshall

Masters Women 35+: 1st Marti Marshall

Men’s Rock Jock: 1st Bob Carver, 2nd Kurt Bersagel

Women’s Rock Jock: 1st Jenn de Groot

The 3rd Annual SoCO CRAG / Pueblo YMCA  Community Climbing Competition was held Sunday, February 8, 2015.   Kids 6-17 competing in the morning and adults ages 18+ competing in the afternoon.  Awards and prizes were given to the top youth and adults climbers. Grand Champion Climber winners of the coveted Golden Crimper award were William Carver and Silvia Bertaud for youth and  Bob Carver and Rebecca Bersagel for adult.

Thanks to the Pueblo YMCA climbers, CSU-P climbing team and all the SoCO CRAG volunteers. Also a big shout out to the event sponsors:The Edge, Access Fund, Chipotle, Wendy’s, Rock Candy Holds, Black Diamond, and the Bersagel’s.

SoCO CRAG’s fifth annual Adopt a Crag was  held Saturday, September 13, 2014 . 12 volunteers from Manitou Springs, Westcliffe, and Pueblo joined up to assist the USFS with trail maintenance. After  a safety briefing  with the Forest Service trail crew we worked on the Rudolph Mountain Trail for a few miles.   Water bars were maintained and constructed,  brush was cut back, and trash was cleaned.  Lunch and the evening burger BBQ was provided by CSU-Pueblo Outdoor Pursuits Program with a grant from the American Alpine Club. Saturday night everyone camped out along South Hardscrabble Creek Road.  Sunday we  enjoyed the fruits of our labor climbing nearby at Scene of the Crime. Thanks to the Access Fund, American Alpine Club and the CSU-Pueblo Outdoor Pursuits program for their support and sponsorship.

The 2nd Annual SoCO CRAG / Pueblo YMCA  Community Climbing Competition was a huge success. The comp grew to 35 competitors. All ages and abilities  competed on Sunday Feb 16, 2014 at the Pueblo YMCA climbing wall. Women’s Grand Champion is Isabella Montoya and Men’s Grand Champion Will Frindle. Top scorers in the Youth Division are Kyla Garrison, Aubreyana Ruybol, Silvia Bertoud andAlex Krenz. Teen placers are Azaria Segall, Sage Martin and Kaitlen Smith. Adult placers are Drake Dinero, Rebecca Bersagel and Dane Gomez. Rock Jock placers are Adam, Nick and Amber. The Master’s class placers are Kurt Bersagel, Randy Rerth, Jeremy Kastner, Holly Bruestle, Renee Hildebrandt and Laura. We appreciate all the event  donors  and sponsors: Red Chili, Mad Rock, Sterling Rope, Black Diamond, Pikes Peak Alpine School, Wendy’s, Subway, The Edge. Prizes were awarded to top finishers in the youth, Junior, Rock Jock, and Masters  divisions. SoCO CRAG thanks all the CSU-P  volunteers that helped route set. A big thanks to all the SoCO CRAG volunteers that helped judge and belay: Adam, Alex, James, Jeff, Jason, Jarrett.

SoCO CRAG’s fourth annual Adopt a Crag was  held Saturday, September 7, 2013 . 30 volunteers including  SoCo CRAG members, CSU-Pueblo Outdoor Pursuits leaders, international students and local climbers met with the Forest Service trail crew and worked on the East Bear Gulch trail below Tanner Dome.   Water bars were constructed,  scrub oak was cut back, and trash was cleaned. Thanks to James Lopez for supplying Taste of Philly wraps for lunch. We reconvened Saturday night for a cookout, campfire and camping  at the nearby Oak Creek Campground. Thanks to the American Alpine Club and CSU-P Outdoor Pursuits for cosponsoring the cookout. Thanks to Outdoor Pursuits Director Scott Robertshaw for bringing over 20 volunteers and manning the burger and braut grill. Sunday,  CSU-Pueblo Outdoor Pursuits  treated everyone to breakfast before heading back up to Tanner Dome. The day was spent enjoying the fruits of our labors climbing on Tanner Dome.