Moving to Ft Collins, looking for mentors

[GUTstring]

Hi all, I am moving from western Oregon to Ft. Collins sometime next month. I have some gentle scrambles and snow climbs under my belt, but I'd like to up my mountaineering game this year. I'd like to work on travel on steep snow and technical skills in the climbing gym this winter and start learning alpine trad in the summer. Would anyone in the area be up for dragging me around this winter and spring? :p

A bit about me - I am a 28 year old finishing my PhD at the University of Oregon working on improving the sensitivity of LIGO - the world's best gravitational wave observatory. My wife is starting work as a rangeland biologist in a few days; that's why we're moving. Outside of work and hiking, of course, I enjoy baking, reading (I'm currently reading about life and society in paleolithic Europe) and running.

[astranko]

Fort Collins regularly has happy hours. Consider attending one of those to meet some folks? It doesn't look like there is one this month, however.

There is one in Boulder this month on 1/15, which is about an hour from FoCo!

[ajdanger]

I'm in a similar position but based in Denver/Boulder. I joined the FoCo meetup last month and it was a great crowd, definitely worth considering coming down to the boulder meetup! And I'm looking for partners, feel free to DM me if you're interested in grabbing a beer. 30 y/o guy working in tech, moved here last summer.

[MidsizeAl]

Hi all, I am moving from western Oregon to Ft. Collins sometime next month[...]

Welcome to Fort Collins! If you are looking to join a climbing gym, I figured I'd put in a good word for Ascent. My wife and I are members and really love it there. They have some great classes/clinics and currently have a few dry tool routes up, if you are into that sort of thing. I don't have technical mountaineering experience, but I am also looking to learn alpine trad. Shoot me a DM if you are ever in need of a belay partner.

[kyrawhitworth]

I'm foco/loveland based and would love to meet up sometime to chat mountain things and plans. The happy hours are generally too late in the evening for me to attend personally but yes, totally agreeing that it's a great crowd w good folks at those. There's a few spring objectives that I'd love partners for. 970-581-2910 or insta for contact.

[daway8]

I'm also in FoCo with a membership at Ascent and happy to meet up with belay partners. I've been slowly ramping up on winter climbs - working on the Crestones most recently (one down, still one to go).

I've had in the back of my mind for a while to get into alpine trad but have been doing ok on low to mid 5th without ropes so haven't really worked up the motivation to learn, but could possibly be peer-pressured into it if I found a partner interested in fun routes...

[Ryan987]

+1 for Ascent. Who knew there were so many of us here who climbs at ascent!

[MidsizeAl]

I'm also in FoCo with a membership at Ascent and happy to meet up with belay partners. I've been slowly ramping up on winter climbs - working on the Crestones most recently (one down, still one to go).

I've had in the back of my mind for a while to get into alpine trad but have been doing ok on low to mid 5th without ropes so haven't really worked up the motivation to learn, but could possibly be peer-pressured into it if I found a partner interested in fun routes...

+1 for Ascent. Who knew there were so many of us here who climbs at ascent!

Well shoot, my offer extends to you both as well then (and anyone else that climbs there). I typically climb on weekday evenings and Sunday mornings. I'm usually carrying around an overly large black rope bag/tarp and a water bottle with a 14ers.com sticker on it. Feel free to say hello if you spot me!

[GUTstring]

Thanks all who've commented for the offers and advice. It sounds like I need to get an Ascent membership first thing...

[Ryan987]

I'm also in FoCo with a membership at Ascent and happy to meet up with belay partners. I've been slowly ramping up on winter climbs - working on the Crestones most recently (one down, still one to go).

I've had in the back of my mind for a while to get into alpine trad but have been doing ok on low to mid 5th without ropes so haven't really worked up the motivation to learn, but could possibly be peer-pressured into it if I found a partner interested in fun routes...

+1 for Ascent. Who knew there were so many of us here who climbs at ascent!

Well shoot, my offer extends to you both as well then (and anyone else that climbs there). I typically climb on weekday evenings and Sunday mornings. I'm usually carrying around an overly large black rope bag/tarp and a water bottle with a 14ers.com sticker on it. Feel free to say hello if you spot me!

Sounds good! I'll keep my eyes peeled out for your bag and bottle. I torn my A4 finger pulley on Friday tho, so it might be a while ha. I'll find you sooner than later

[AndrewJCraigie]

hey there! As others have said, there is generally a monthly Fort Collins meetup which is a good way to meet folks over a beer. Not doing one this month as things are a bit crazy for me and there's a nearby(ish) Boulder meetup happening tonight, but there should be one on the calendar in February / March. I'll post it here and spam the various FB groups once details have been settled. Hope to see you there!

[matt_foco]

Hey there! Welcome to FoCo!
I tended to avoid 14ers.com and meet ups for years, as prior to the recent forum change I was not able to log into my account despite dozens of efforts. Plus, I tend to be a ghost from people as an introvert. Way to finish that phd! When I am recovered from my achilles rupture and tendonitis you are welcome to hit me up as well. I can't afford a climbing gym and usually just climb or boulder off duncans ridge or horsetooth or up the poudre on terrain. I love steep alpine snow routes, so feel free to hit me up for some lines come April/May (dependent on my achilles recovery

Fort Collins is my hometown and I can show you my favorite local scrambles and lines. Ive done horsetooth probably a good 500 or so times in my life, and there's some really fun, semi to very exposed lines up all the teeth. Arthurs is a fun class 4 scramble if you know the line. Palisade Peak has a fun class 3 line with a fun class 4/5 150 foot headwall at the top that rises straight up its 1,500 foot cliffs from the base of the Big Thompson that I did a few years back, (although it might be wise to stay off it till the vegetation regrows and stabalizes from the Alexander Mountain Fire.)Weenie route on greyrock is a fun 3- to low 5 700 foot slab scramble as well, and its clear all year round given its direction towards the winter sun.

970-988-8189 for contact
mattrogers_970 on instagram