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Is Rifle still climbable?

Original Post
aikibujin · · Castle Rock, CO · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 300

For the next three months I have the rare opportunity to get away from Denver and do more than just day trips. I've never been to Rifle, so I'd like to check it out... but only if it's actually possible to climb (not ice) there. The Front Range has gotten a lot of snow in the last couple of weeks, so I'm a little doubtful about the condition in Rifle. I know December is probably not the prime season for Rifle according to the MP database, but it's what I have to work with. Can anyone familiar with Rifle tell me if it's possible to climb there in the next three months? The weather forecast for Rifle is about 40-something degrees during the day, which I can deal with if it's sunny. But if it's shady with icicles hanging everywhere, then I guess I'll just have to wait until it warms up a bit.

aikibujin · · Castle Rock, CO · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 300

Based on the overwhelming response I've received so far, I have to guess that it's the perfect sending temp at Rifle right now and everyone wants to keep it a secret. So the next question is, who wants to go out there and climb with me?

Chris Schmidt · · Fruita, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 0

You need long periods of dry after wet so it isn't wet/seepy. It is probably ok right now until the next storm

As far as the next 3 months go it depends how wet of a winter it is. I wouldn't count on more than the next week or so being good.

Mauricio Herrera Cuadra · · North Vancouver, BC · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 3,908

I was there a month ago and it was climbable but pretty cold already. If you don't mind getting the screaming barfies I guess you could go. Just don't expect to be sending stuff near your limit, pinching your way up those cold inverted jugs will feel like climbing ice with your bare hands.

aikibujin · · Castle Rock, CO · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 300
Chris Schmidt wrote:You need long periods of dry after wet so it isn't wet/seepy. It is probably ok right now until the next storm As far as the next 3 months go it depends how wet of a winter it is. I wouldn't count on more than the next week or so being good.
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately long term forecast is calling for another snowstorm in Colorado around the weekend of Dec 12-13, so I think your prediction may be pretty accurate.
Michael Schneiter · · Glenwood Springs, CO · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 10,406

I haven't been out lately but have been trying to get out to climb. It's probably climbable, depending on your definition of climbable and what you want to climb. There's always a hardy crew of climbers that will still climb rock out there all winter. I typically see as many, or more rock climbers than ice climbers out there in the winter. This time of year you can typically climb ice and rock on the same day. You just can't be super picky about what climbs you do and you need to chase sun. There are some walls that don't get a lick of sun all winter but other walls that fair really well. Seeping isn't typically a problem in the winter because it's too cold for it to seep. You'll see icicles hanging from the seeps in places like the Arsenal but they don't start seeping until March-ish.

aikibujin · · Castle Rock, CO · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 300
Mauricio Herrera Cuadra wrote:Just don't expect to be sending stuff near your limit
Don't worry, I never send stuff near my limit anyway. Most of the time it's just a lot of grunting, screaming, and falling, followed by getting lowered in shame and lie down somewhere to cry.
aikibujin · · Castle Rock, CO · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 300
Michael Schneiter wrote:There's always a hardy crew of climbers that will still climb rock out there all winter. I typically see as many, or more rock climbers than ice climbers out there in the winter. This time of year you can typically climb ice and rock on the same day. You just can't be super picky about what climbs you do and you need to chase sun.
That's good to hear. I usually deal with suffering pretty well, plus I just really want to check it out, so I'm not going to be picky. Any recommendation on sunny walls for a first timer?
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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