Jeff Clark

The Diamond

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While the Front Range has a plethora of moderate rock climbs, including several classics, the options for those pursuing very difficult climbs are nearly as unlimited. In fact, several of Colorado's most famous climbs are exceptionally difficult. If you're wanting to push your limits, here are five routes that will get the adrenaline pumping and get you way up there. More >>

joiseyshowaa c/o of Flickr

The Third Flatiron on the left, with the CU prominently visibile

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Rock climbers in Colorado often feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store. Everywhere the eye can see are rock routes of all difficulties and lengths. Boulder alone has more rock climbs than many states. Factor in all the other climbs in the area, and you could easily devote an entire lifetime to trying to climb every route in the state, climbing 365 days a year, and still not hit them all. Of course, every climber has his or her favorites, but when it comes to moderate routes, some really rise to the top, no pun intended. If you are just getting into climbing, or even if you've been doing it a while and haven't hit these routes, get on 'em!
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Mountain Project.

The Dome. East Slab is directly below the rightmost tree at the top of the formation.

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As you head into Boulder Canyon, the first series of rocks you pass on the right includes the Elephant Buttresses and the Dome. The Dome is one of the most popular formations in Boulder, with excellent moderate climbs on smooth granite. On the right side of the formation is one of the best beginner routes in the Boulder area, the East Slab (5.6).
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"Quick--press 'A' to dyno!"

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If you've always dreamed of sending killer routes up rock faces but aren't so down with the "outdoors" thing, your prayers have been answered: Vaguely-named game producer Human Soft plans to bring a climbing video game to the Wii.

Called (gag) Hardgrip, the game will reportedly allow users to "experience the thrill and adrenaline of free soloing some of the most amazing rock walls in the world with vertigo-inspiring graphics, a pulse-pounding soundtrack, and dizzyingly realistic climbing action." Well, as realistic as you can get in the comfort of your living room, or your parents' basement, as the case may be.

Here's a couple reasons why this game is fated to eat a whole buncha ass:
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Who wants some?!

​If you fancy yourself a mountain hardman or hardwoman just waiting for your moment of athletic glory, get ready: Registration for the Teva Mountain Games in Vail is now open.

Both amateurs and pros can sign up to compete in kayaking, rafting, mountain biking, road cycling, amateur climbing, World Cup bouldering, fly-fishing, trail running, stand up paddling, or a half marathon. There's also a $100,000 prize pool, but your scrub ass probably shouldn't count on winning any of that. More >>

Like seeing this by yourself? Me too.

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Recently, I took fellow OTE blogger Greg Benchwick's advice and I headed out to Moab, Utah. This isn't a rare pilgrimage for Front Rangers -- it just usually happens in spring and summer, when dirt hounds can get their tires and tread reliably on trails without snow. A mention of my winter pilgrimage usually got me weird looks and expectations that I'd return frozen and dusted red.

I'd like to call BS on that notion: Whereas Moab summers are choked to the gills with jeeping jerks and the fannypacked masses clogging roads, winter is blissfully empty. Best of all, you don't really have to sacrifice any comfort.  More >>

Bouldering -- with its relentless focus towards pure climbing technique on rocks usually less than 15 feet off the ground -- can be maddening to watch. But it can serve as an amazing rock-climbing test piece for problems that would otherwise, y'know, kill you.

So it is with "The Game" in Boulder Canyon, a particular problem touted as potentially the hardest in the world (it's rated V16, whatever that means). Boulder climber Daniel Woods just tackled it successfully, and fellow climber Cedar Wright was on hand to film it for The North Face.

Seeing Daniel actually climb it is sort of like watching someone with an antigravity pack on--at least until a hold breaks and he rips his finger open, making a super-hard problem even tougher. Check it:

The Game, World's Hardest Boulder Problem? from Cedar Wright on Vimeo.

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​Dig climbing Colorado's storied 14,000-foot peaks? You aren't alone: 500,000 people attempt to bag one of our 58 high-country monarchs every year. But those mountains just don't take care of themselves -- each year, groups like the Colorado 14er Initiative and Colorado Mountain Club put in days of trail work to keep the peaks clean, safe, and beautiful.

If you'd like to help contribute to preserving our 14ers without, y'know, actually picking up a shovel or a Pulaski, you can always do what the politically outspoken have done for years: buy a sticker. The Colorado-based 14erstickers.com has created a unique screenprinted 2 x 2 sticker of each and every 14er, from Blanca to Windom.
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Boulder climbers Renan Ozturk and Corey Richards just bagged a new route on 21,320-foot Tawoche in Nepal -- a mighty feat in any case, but this time made worse by crumbly rock and 36 hours without water. Even so, they managed to safely tag the summit and make this video all by themselves.

Though it bears the North Face logo, it was totally shot and edited by the two climbers while on the mountain and at base camp. Even better, it crushes most climbing films with kickass cinematography, genuine characters, and snappy editing. To me, Ozturk and Richards just set the standard, and they're just two yahoos on the edge of a mountain. Eat it, production crews:

TAWOCHE 2k10 dispatches #4 from renan ozturk on Vimeo.

Check out the summit vid after the jump.
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14ers are both the Colorado hiker's hallmark and his/her bane. You can't help but want to tick them off your personal list and "collect 'em all!" like they're toys or trophies. Problem is, you're not the only one, and the tops of all but the hardest can seem like a high-altitude kegger with people you wouldn't ever invite (and no beers!).

Ladies and gentlemen, I've found a solution: Climbing the winter 14er. Where in summer Elbert is loaded with jean-clad hikers (I even saw a freaking baby on top once) and trail runners, in winter you'll find little more than windblown snow and maybe a misguided crow or two. Oh, plus the same kick-ass views for miles.

The reason is simple: Climbing a 14er in winter is by and large a miserable experience.
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