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.
Head on down to the best limestone sport cragging Colorado has to offer, and with the support of the American Alpine Club and CAMP USA, be treated to a weekend of clinics, contests, beer, giveaways, stewardship and fun.
Last year’s event was a blast, complete with a Costume Contest and fabulous speakers. This year, from October 21 to 23, enjoy more of the same including a showing of REEL ROCK Film Tour 11 on opening night, great clinics taught by professional mountain guides and athletes on Saturday, and a stewardship project on Sunday morning. Enjoy time with friends, free beer, great food by local food trucks and businesses, loads of gear giveaways, fabulous bolt clipping in the sun, and an opportunity to give back to your crag.
Register at : https://americanalpineclub.org/shelf-road-cc
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
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW … and line up your babysitters… for Thursday, June 9, 2016! SoCO CRAG will be meeting in Pueblo. Meet us 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! To be held at J Michael’s Union Avenue Pub, downstairs in the cavern.
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
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW … and line up your babysitters… for Thursday, February 4, 2016! SoCO CRAG will be meeting in Pueblo. Meet us 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! See you upstairs at the Gold Dust Saloon in Pueblo.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW … and line up your babysitters… for Thursday, November 19! SoCO CRAG will be meeting up at the Gold Dust Saloon in Pueblo. Meet us 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! See you upstairs.
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 .