Trip to Fort Collins, CO (Sep/3-Sep/16)

figures my first post would be looking for help/handouts...

I'm headed out to Fort Collins this weekend (will be at CSU-VTH for 2 weeks with possibility of moving next year). I don't know the area at all, but it looks like there's plenty at Horsetooth as far as boudering goes and a bit of TR. Any suggestions for nearby places to check out for trad or sport? Greyrock? The Palace?
Are there some guidebooks/maps (Horsetooth or otherwise) floating around on the interwebs?

Thanks!

Also, if anyone happens to be looking for a random trad/sport tagalong tourist *ahem* I mean partner, let me know. Since I'm flying, I'm not bringing rack or rope, but can always pay with gas/beer. (background = North Carolina trad weekend warrior for almost a decade and happy as a clam with some cowbells and a moderate, but love a good sport challenge too)

Don't go to greyrock unless you want to hike for a couple hours. Bout an hour fifteen in, forty five out. Horsetooth has tons of bouldering, quite a few places to top rope. The palace is a great place to climb unless you're only a 5.9 or under leader, in which case it's terrible. The crystal wall has a couple sport multipitch and decent sport climbing with not a bad approach. Poudre canyon in general is a good place to explore. There's some more quality bouldering at Carter Lake, about 25 minutes from FoCo, but the vegetation might be pretty run over this time of year. Have fun man

Free guidebooks available online for the Fort Collins areas: nococlimbing.org/

If you're looking for trad, Lumpy Ridge is less than an hour away. For sport, I've been told it's a bit early for the Palace, but Crystal Wall is pretty decent, as is the Monastery. You'll probably get other suggestions as I haven't been many places here yet.

What sorts of grades are you looking for?

Ian Stewart wrote:...What sorts of grades are you looking for?

thanks for the info from you both. as far as grades, my answer may have been different had you asked me last year: on gear i don't really want to get into the 10's without good beta, but 9 & below is comfortable. I'm happy up to mid-11's on bolts & like a challenge.

fort collins is very close to many incredible climbing areas...check them out on mtn project and get guide books: Estes Park, RMNP, Poudre, Vedauwoo, Eldoradado, Boulder and many many more all within an hour or so drive

thanks for the tips. If anyone is headed out to horsetooth or something tomorrow (Mon Sep/5) and is going through Fort Collins, I'd love to bum a ride/pay with gas/beers. I'd like to check out the area. If interested, let me know. If not, I'm sure I could just rent a car.

This past weekend was good. Got to get out and see the area a bit.

Now, I'm looking for anyone willing to buddy up for the upcoming weekend for a bit of trad and/or sport. Like I said before, I don't have my rack or rope with me, but I'm more than happy to compensate with beer/gas.

So, since I'm looking for a trad/sport partner for this weekend (Sep/10-Sep/11), if you've got the time and willingness to head out, please let me know. I'd love to get out and see some good routes before I leave. I'm happy to meet up at a gym or local crag in the evening during the week if you want to make sure that I'm not some yahoo without a sense of safety.

Thanks!

bump!

I'm looking to go to the palace tomorrow if you are free. Just checking out some moderate climbs for some friends this weekend. Will belay what ever you want to get on. Let me know!

I'll be busy at CSU tomorrow. I'm free all day Sunday and definitely good for a late start on Saturday (on call in the morning); though I may be able to negotiate some more flexibility on the weekend, but slammed until then.

Let me know if you have time/space for a tag-along this weekend.

Got it worked out. Thanks, Kevin!