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Post by jrblack on Mar 21, 2018 18:40:57 GMT -7
This is mostly for the Colorado people... sorry. So... Hwy 6 is closed Mon through Thu for rock scraping (this is where they use a machine to scrape away loose rock from roadside cliffs in order to forestall later rockfall) and fencing. This will continue through April 30th, suspend for the summer, and resume in November. This sucks... it means my project is inaccessible 4 days a week! Today I wanted to go work on it, so I decided that I would hike in.. after all, it's only 2 miles from the road closure! But... they won't let you walk on the road, especially since someone died yesterday... This meant I had to hike up the canyon next to the river. The trail is on the south side, so I hiked on the south side and brought hip waders with me to cross to the north once I got to the crag. This seemed like a great idea, except the south side trail was closed less than a mile in. This meant I had to walk in the river for a good ways, then cross around Tunnel 1, then regain the trail, etc., etc. Anyway, nearly 2 hours later I was at the crag (that takes 10 mins to reach when the road is open). And did I finally send my project? Nope... but I'm getting stronger, so it was a good day!  Attachments:
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Post by MarkAnderson on Mar 21, 2018 19:37:38 GMT -7
You can easily climb over that fence if you want to stay in the canal. What crag are you going to?
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Post by aikibujin on Mar 21, 2018 19:49:23 GMT -7
Anyway, nearly 2 hours later I was at the crag (that takes 10 mins to reach when the road is open). I think your commitment to your project is commendable, but I wonder if that's the best use of your time. Roundtrip that's 4 hours you could've spent climbing, training, or doing any number of things. You know the areas west of 119 are still open, right? So if you're looking for 5.11s to project, you still have options. There are three 5.11s at East Colfax, not three-star routes, but they're 5 minutes from the car. Across the river on Crystal Tower, Skippin' Stone is one of the best 5.11s in Clear Creek, definitely project worthy. Hot Dog at the Doghouse is another excellent 5.11. What is this project of yours that's worth the 2-hour hike in? |
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Post by scojo on Mar 21, 2018 21:31:17 GMT -7
Presumably, you had a climbing partner with you. I'm impressed you were able to persuade someone to join in on your shenanigans.
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Post by jrblack on Mar 21, 2018 22:04:04 GMT -7
You can easily climb over that fence if you want to stay in the canal. What crag are you going to? Yeah, easy to climb, but it said "Trail Closed, Hazardous Conditions, $50 fine, strictly enforced." And I thought, "I'd be happy to risk the $50, but ... I don't want to give climbers a bad rep. That leads to access problems down the line." So I opted to go around. I was going to Sports Wall. |
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Post by jrblack on Mar 21, 2018 22:08:20 GMT -7
Anyway, nearly 2 hours later I was at the crag (that takes 10 mins to reach when the road is open). I think your commitment to your project is commendable, but I wonder if that's the best use of your time. Roundtrip that's 4 hours you could've spent climbing, training, or doing any number of things. You know the areas west of 119 are still open, right? So if you're looking for 5.11s to project, you still have options. There are three 5.11s at East Colfax, not three-star routes, but they're 5 minutes from the car. Across the river on Crystal Tower, Skippin' Stone is one of the best 5.11s in Clear Creek, definitely project worthy. Hot Dog at the Doghouse is another excellent 5.11. What is this project of yours that's worth the 2-hour hike in? I had the day off, I wanted to burn cals (weight loss goal), I liked the adventurous feeling of not knowing that the hell I was doing, and I'm SO CLOSE to getting this route... I'd hate to start another project before I get this one done. Not to mention, this route (Generation Gap) is easy to TR and I was solo. Some routes are a challenge to TR solo, and I'd have to scope the routes you're proposing before committing to projecting them. Plus, I'm emotionally invested in this route... I'm sure this has happened to other climbers?! You get fixated? By the way, if anyone's interested, Hwy 6 will not close at all next week, but then resumes the closures until Apr 30. |
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Post by jrblack on Mar 21, 2018 22:10:55 GMT -7
Presumably, you had a climbing partner with you. I'm impressed you were able to persuade someone to join in on your shenanigans. There's no way anyone would have ever done this with me. They'd think I was utterly crazy and want to go to some reasonably easy-to-access place instead. I was traxing on a semi-static cord. It was cool (and a little eerie) to not have the roar of Hwy 6 traffic today... it was completely quiet except for the river and the crickets (and me screaming when I fell off, which happened a lot). |
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Post by Chris W on Mar 22, 2018 4:30:40 GMT -7
There's no way anyone would have ever done this with me. Too bad you don't live in South Central PA (or too bad I don't live on Colorado); that's my kind of crazy. Can't blame you; I get psyched on a project and go for it regardless of circumstances. Of course, I don't have quite as much to choose from either. |
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Post by aikibujin on Mar 22, 2018 5:57:59 GMT -7
I'm sure this has happened to other climbers?! You get fixated? Fixated?! Never. I mean, the only reason I've been climbing nothing but a single route for the last three months is because I KNOW I'm going to send it on the next go! I just know it.  Well, good luck on your project. Good to know they won't close the canyon next week. Unfortunately the weather forecast is not looking great right now... that probably why they're not working. Maybe if it stays dry I'll have another go on my proj. But I know I'll send it tomorrow, for sure this time! |
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Post by jrblack on Mar 22, 2018 6:12:40 GMT -7
I'm sure this has happened to other climbers?! You get fixated? Fixated?! Never. I mean, the only reason I've been climbing nothing but a single route for the last three months is because I KNOW I'm going to send it on the next go! I just know it. Well, good luck on your project. Good to know they won't close the canyon next week. Unfortunately the weather forecast is not looking great right now... that probably why they're not working. Maybe if it stays dry I'll have another go on my proj. But I know I'll send it tomorrow, for sure this time! Yeah, you're in the same boat I am (but you can't hike to your project!). Looks like snow and rain next Mon/Tue  Not sure if that's why they're closing... I figured maybe because it was spring break! But why would spring break apply to CDOT? Hrmm... |
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Post by MarkAnderson on Mar 22, 2018 8:11:31 GMT -7
I’d be shocked if they didn’t stop work to do additional safety training after a fatality.
Anyway, people hike that canal all the time. And quite frankly our sterling reputation with JeffCo Open Space hasn’t done jack shit to help the access situation. They view us as a virus that needs to be contained if it can’t be eradicated, and nothing we do is going to change that. Our best hope is to infiltrate their staff in hopes of changing their attitude over the course of many years. Personally I’ve moved on to adjacent counties.
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Post by jrblack on Mar 22, 2018 8:34:41 GMT -7
I’d be shocked if they didn’t stop work to do additional safety training after a fatality. Anyway, people hike that canal all the time. And quite frankly our sterling reputation with JeffCo Open Space hasn’t done jack shit to help the access situation. They view us as a virus that needs to be contained if it can’t be eradicated, and nothing we do is going to change that. Our best hope is to infiltrate their staff in hopes of changing their attitude over the course of many years. Personally I’ve moved on to adjacent counties.
Actually Mark, I think you nailed it: it's probably a result of the fatality. I had no idea JeffCo viewed us as parasites in their space. I'll bet that could be ameliorated with enough effort. Maybe I'll take this up with Kevin Capps (who's very invested in that area). There is a TON of trash all over the open space (mostly due to fishermen) and I'll bet a climber-led trash cleanup would sew a lot of goodwill. Just need to organize it. |
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Post by Chris W on Mar 24, 2018 17:50:05 GMT -7
Regarding climbing craziness:
If it makes you feel any better, I just spent the day stumbling through a foot of snow for a mile and a half (each way, and uphill each way, wearing roller skates) to set up a top rope solo to check out the moves on my project...
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Post by jrblack on Mar 24, 2018 18:44:51 GMT -7
Where was this Chris? Are you in Colorado?
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Well, good luck on your project.