Upcoming Events

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW … and line up your babysitters… for Thursday, September 8! SoCO CRAG will be meeting up in Pueblo. Meet at 6:30pm to socialize, followed by our meeting at 7. This is your chance to network with other area climbers, plan trips and to hear first-hand the latest from SoCO CRAG. Come join us, and bring a friend! Shamrock Brewing Company, 108 w 3rd St, Pueblo.

Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25, 2016 we will be joining forces with the Access Fund,  Pikes Peak Climbers Alliance, BLM, and RMFI for stewardship, maintenance, and community at Shelf Road. Camping at Sand Gulch Group Site. Saturday morning coffee by Coyote Cafe, Saturday night cookout by PPCA. Free food and Beer.

What: 6th SoCO CRAG  Adopt-a-Crag/National Public Lands Day. We will be working on stair building, retaining walls, and closing social trails.

Where: Meet at Sand Gulch Group Site , Shelf Road Climbing Area

When: Saturday 9am-3pm and Sunday 9am-noon

Bring work gloves and closed toe shoes.

Sign up:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8Kz2rtHf2XexdHBhoLw-GuwLVl7y_eJjd7I1GSjDDGHb3jg/viewform

Kimball’s Peak Three Theater in Colorado Springs, one day only  – 2:30 and 5 pm showings are $7.50, 7:30 showing is $9.

In October 2008, Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk arrived in India to tackle Meru. What was meant to be a seven-day trip with the equivalent amount of food became a 20-day odyssey in sub-zero temperatures, thanks to the setback of a massive storm that showered the mountain with at least 10 feet of snow. Like everyone before them, their journey was not a successful one. But they had reached further than anyone else, beaten back just 100 meters below the elusive summit.

Heartbroken and defeated, Anker, Chin and Ozturk returned to their everyday lives, swearing never to attempt the journey again. But they faced sudden physical and emotional challenges back home, too, challenges only exacerbated by the siren song of Meru, one that Anker perhaps heard the loudest. By September 2011, Anker had convinced his two lifelong friends to undertake the Shark’s Fin once more, under even more extraordinary circumstances than the first time around.

MERU is the story of that journey—one of friendship, sacrifice, hope and obsession.

Saturday, September 19th  15 volunteers from  SoCO CRAG and CSU-P Outdoor Pursuits convened for the 5th annual adopt-a-crag trail work weekend with the USFS to repair and improve damaged Wet Mountain climber trails . The whole North San Carlos trail was trimmed of scrub oak overgrowth. Water bars were also maintained and constructed.

Saturday night we all camped nearby, with dinner provided by CSU-P Outdoor Pursuits and a generous donation by local climber Rob Redwine.

Sunday we enjoyed the fruits of our labors climbing nearby at either Goliath Gorge .

Update:  Metanoia’s SoCO premiere was a huge success. About 80 people attended, including a who’s who of local climbing. Over $600 was raised to help Jeff with film production and hospice costs. Looking forward to the next adventure film SoCO CRAG can host.

Southern Colorado premiere of Jeff Lowe’s Metanoia .A film about one man’s journey from the top of the world to the end of the line. Jeff helped make climbing what it is today, through technical innovation and more than a thousand first ascents, including “Metanoia” on the north face of the Eiger, where he experienced a spiritual transformation that continues to this day. Jeff’s story inspires us all, as he brings the creativity and strength that characterized his climbing career to the challenge that he faces today: his own mortality.

Advance Tickets $15 for best seats in the house, $12 at the door. Advance Tickets on sale at The Edge:Ski, Pack, Paddle and at the CSU-P Outdoor Pursuits office. Film to be shown in Hasan School of Business Auditorium, Thursday April 9, 7pm. Hosted by SoCO CRAG and CSU-P Outdoor Pursuits. Doors open at 6:30.

John Castanha has once again offered to open his land to climbers for one day. His property near Rye has untouched sandstone boulders and cliffs. He is willing to host up to 20 climbers on Saturday, May 17, 2014. If you are interested,  contact trip leader Chris Oshiro (330) 701-9066  to be added to the guest list.

SoCO CRAG’s 2013 Spring Meeting will be held Thursday ,  April 11 at 6pm.    See you at Manhattans Pizza Hwy 50 for  food, drinks and talk of  climbing.  I look forward to planning next year’s projects, trips,  ideas for community outreach and updates on local access.

Bring a friend,
Ben Bruestle
Pueblo, CO

719-924-4297

SoCO CRAG’s 2013 Winter Meeting will be held Wednesday,  January 9 at 6pm.    See you at Manhattans Pizza Hwy 50 for  food, drinks and talk of  climbing.  I look forward to planning next year’s projects, trips,  ideas for community outreach and updates on local access.

Bring a friend,
Ben Bruestle
Pueblo, CO

719-924-4297

SoCo CRAG’s annual Adopt-a-Crag will be held Sunday, September 18, 2011 in partnership with the Access Fund, Anchor Replacement Initiative and the Forest Service.  We’ll be working on the trail, cleaning up trash, constructing a low water crossing and replacing anchors in the Goliath Gorge area along the South San Carlos Trail.  We’ll meet at the Lake San Isabel Ranger Station at 7:45 am and move to the trailhead from there.  Thanks to Matt Buck with Chipopachui for donating volunteer T-shirts and SoCo CRAG member James Lopez with Taste of Philly for donating lunch.  Remember to wear pants, closed toe shoes and gloves.  Plan on climbing in the afternoon after a morning of trail work.  See you there.

San Carlos Trail (#1320)–Drive 6.3 miles north of Rye (or 1.4 miles south from Lake San Isabel) on CO 165 to Robb Road, between Camp Jackson and Lake San Isabel.  Turn east on Robb Road and drive 0.5 mile to the intersection with Old San Isabel Road, FR 243.  Turn left and go 0.2 miles to San Carlos Road 320.  Turn right at the cattle guard; from here you’ll want high clearance or 4 wheel drive to drive the 3 miles to the San Carlos trailhead at the end of the road.

Ben Bruestle
719-924-4297