Rave: Climbing a Mountain the Fun Way

[a_smith]

Okay, so what are some good beginners climbs?

by climbs- do you mean

Ridge hikes that are exposed?

Rock climbs? depends on your ability. Go to a climbing gym and see what you can do. Learn a few basic techniques. If you like it find a partner who seems competent and go outdoors.

Mountaineering?/ Ice? find a partner/ guide. There are often groups that sponsor outings to introduce new people to the sport.

It also depends on where do you live?

Summitpost.org lists hikes/scrambles etc
For just rock climbing/ice/mountaineering Mountainproject.com lists tons of routes.

If you are going to go climbing get trained on how to find routes, place/use gear, be safe, and learn when it is ok to push limits and when it is best to call it a day.

If you want to do lots of scrambling do yourself a favor and practice downclimbing. A rule of thumb is that if you cant downclimb it, don't climb up.

It's a lot of fun.

[lukethedrifter]

Well, I've hike the Grand Canyon several times. Think I'd like to climb upward next. Something that I can bring my future bride along on (she's in fine shape) that doesn't require technical climbing skills but presents a little challenge.

[Hungary Jack]

Well, I've hike the Grand Canyon several times. Think I'd like to climb upward next. Something that I can bring my future bride along on (she's in fine shape) that doesn't require technical climbing skills but presents a little challenge.

If you guy by the hiking/climbing rating system, class 3 is where things can start to get interesting. Generally it goes like this:

class 1: hiking on easy, well-marked trail. no route-finding needed
class 2: hiking off trail, some route-finding needed
class 3: steep trail or off trail, some exposure to heights, route-finding
class 4: significant exposure that could be fatal in the event of a fall
class 5: technical climbing

http://www.utahoutside.com/2010/07/hiki ... ow-you-do/

Almost every 14er in CO has a class 1/2 route to the summit (probably half a dozen not so), but hiking class 1 up 3,000 ft is a pretty good physical challenge for most, even without any appreciable risk of getting lost or falling.

[Hungary Jack]

[Hungary Jack]

I don't think I'll be climbing the iconic Lizard Head Peak in the San Juans, but I'd love to see it up close. Hard to believe this peak is in CO. It's fairly out of character for the central Rockies.

[Freed Roger]

Well, I've hike the Grand Canyon several times. Think I'd like to climb upward next. Something that I can bring my future bride along on (she's in fine shape) that doesn't require technical climbing skills but presents a little challenge.

Rocky Mountain hikes- there are too many to list that you could summit without all the technicals. My only advice would be to not get hung up on it having to be a 14er -(the Quandary TH recently was like big box store parking lot with #of people climbing it on a weekend).

Once again, I'll pimp for Zion NPand the vicinity. Mrs. Freed is probably not as fit as your lady-and isn't a hardcore hiker, but Zion has always inspired her to climb beyond what I expect. She's done the iconic (and crowded) Angel's Landing Hike a few times. There is a major variety of hikes in the area to fit any level of craziness (bring a sharp multitool ). Then back to Springdale UT for R&R by the late afternoon.

Observation Point is an excellent day hike -with a side jaunt in Hidden Canyon.

[Hungary Jack]

Longs Peak is crazily crowded, but it is still an amazing and challenging hike. The standard route takes you on a 180-degree tour of the peak, which is enough to give a good view of its iconic Diamond Face (without having to climb it--one of the great "big walls" in the US) and the surprisingly expansive Boulder Field at 13,000 feet, before crossing through the mysterious Keyhole formation to a totally different setting where a series of ledges and gullies look over a menacingly deep valley. The route finishes with an airy scramble up consolidated rock to an amazingly flat and broad summit.

It is a bear of a day hike: 16 miles and 5,000 ft of vertical, but the variety of terrain and conditions is superb, especially for a hike that is often done by people in jeans and tennis shoes.

If you really want to see Longs in all of its glory without roping up, ascending via the Loft route and descending via the standard route takes you all the way around the peak, and also gets you intimately familiar with Chasm Lake (under the Diamond), the exit ramps in the Loft Couloir, and the incredible Keplinger's Couloir, which will make you feel smaller than Aaron Miles in Yankee Stadium.

[a_smith]

If you really want to see Longs in all of its glory without roping up,

No, if you want to see longs without roping up, see it as someone climbing the Diamond.
Watch this
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgzhcz ... solo_sport

amazing video of Steph David free soloing [climbing without a rope] a route on the Diamond.

While this looks insanely hard, she is such a good climber that is a relatively easy route for her. The hard part is keeping her mind together and not freaking out while she is climbing.
Still, she is one of the best climbers in the world.

Her ex-husband Dean Potter is also a world class climber.
He is bat [expletive] crazy. Here is video of him free-soloing the North Face of the Eiger and then base jumping off the top. WTF
http://video.mpora.com/watch/NkszHYhOb/

He did practice it for a month and avoided the lower sections of the Eiger that have loose rock and was too low to deploy his parachute. That video is just scary for me to watch

[Hungary Jack]

Wow. Cute and climbs like a monkey. Great to see those shots of Longs. Could live without the music.

Hard to say which is ballsier: free-soloing the Diamond or ascending the North Wall and then BASE jumping it.

Smitty--Re Longs, are you familiar with the Iron Gates route up to Mt. Meeker?

[a_smith]

Wow. Cute and climbs like a monkey. Great to see those shots of Longs. Could live without the music.

Hard to say which is ballsier: free-soloing the Diamond or ascending the North Wall and then BASE jumping it.

Smitty--Re Longs, are you familiar with the Iron Gates route up to Mt. Meeker?

don't know the iron gates to meeker. It looks like a great hike/scramble. The exposure looks ass-puckering. Fun.