For the final week of our 2015 Season of Giving, we are giving some love to our neighbors at the Flatirons Climbing Council. Boulder’s Flatirons boast some of our favorite climbing and the FCC is working behind the scenes to maintain trails, develop new routes, and replace bolts as needed.
What is the Flatirons Climbing Council (FCC)?
The FCC is a local climbing organization in Boulder, Colorado, dedicated to preserving and expanding climbing access on City of Boulder public lands. Our specific priorities are to conserve climbing resources through trail building and stewardship projects, facilitate new route development and bolt replacement, and advocate for climbers. More information about the FCC can be found here.
Trail Projects and Stewardship
Every year the FCC funds and completes numerous trail restoration and stewardship projects in the Flatirons.
Flagstaff Mountain Trail Work: The FCC has been working with the City of Boulder to construct sustainable trails and climbing access throughout Flagstaff Mountain including Crown Rock, Cloud Shadow, and the Upper Great Ridge. These are some of the most popular bouldering areas on the mountain and were in serious need of care. More information on the most recent Cloud Shadow trail day is here.
New Trail to Seal Rock: In 2014, the FCC partnered with the City of Boulder to build a new trail to the south face of Seal Rock, one of the premier sport crags in the Flatirons. By building the trail, the City agreed to lift the cap on route development on the south face. Given the incredible potential on the south face, lifting the route cap was a big success in access. The new trail is far more sustainable, scenic, and pleasant than the former trail that went straight up the hillside causing extensive erosion. More info on the trail is here.
Trash Bash: In September the FCC celebrated its 15th annual Trash Bash. Since 2000, the FCC has hosted this event, which has resulted in hundreds of bags of garbage and recyclables collected and has helped protect our climbing and natural resources. The event is also a major community collaboration among the FCC, land managers, local climbing organizations, local businesses, and climbers. This collaboration helps the FCC preserve and expand climbing access. This year’s Trash Bash was a big success, with more than 70 volunteers collecting garbage across Flagstaff.
The FCC’s commitment to stewardship has helped persuade the City to allow new route development on some of the most prized formations in the Flatirons.
New Route Development and Bolt Replacement
Since 2003, an agreement between the FCC and the City of Boulder’s Open Space department has established a program allowing for the replacement of existing hardware and the placement of new fixed hardware in the Flatirons. This has allowed for the updating—to safe, modern stainless-steel hardware—of dozens of classic climbs, as well as the installation of a “new wave” of rock climbs, ranging in difficulty from 5.9 to 5.14, that have been well received by the climbing community. Starting with a successful pilot project covering a few crags in the Dinosaur Mountain area, the program has expanded to open multiple other crags for bolting. As of 2015, 40 routes have been established, which collectively have transformed rock climbing in the Flatirons into a world-class destination. Some of the more popular routes that have been developed through the program include Tracks are for Kids, Box of Rain, The Shaft, Hasta La Hueco, Ultrasaurus, Honey Badger, Choose Life, Thunder Muscle, and others can be found in our guidebook of installed climbs. In 2014 and 2015, 13 new routes were installed, with many more on the way.
The FCC recently started subsidizing hardware for Flatirons route developers. We provide routes developers with 1/2″ stainless bolts, hangers, and anchors at wholesale prices.
The FCC is preparing to renegotiate our list of open formations in early 2016. We hope to be able to expand permitted bolting to new crags such as the Devil’s Advocate, Mickey Mouse Wall, the Flying Flatiron, and many others.
Advocating for Climbers
The FCC has developed a very productive relationship with the City of Boulder and our partners including the Access Fund, the Action Committee for Eldorado Canyon, and the Boulder Climbing Community. The City has recognized the FCC as the organization through which the concerns of the climbing public can be raised. We regularly participate in various community meetings and events to advocate for climbers’ interests and help ensure our access is preserved.
Give Back
Trango is donating 10% of all purchases at www.trango.com to the FCC from December 13-19.
