Rocky Mountain National Park

I spent the winter and subsequent summer of 2026 living and guiding in Estes Park, Colorado, where I got a lot of days out in the alpine terrain. Although the quality of rock in Colorado is scraggly and chossy at best, the adventure and exposure is the true gem of RMNP climbing.

notable routes

alpine

culp-bossier 5.8+, 8 pitches

This climbs the iconic hallet's peak at the scenic end of the bear lake triad, the most popular hike at the park.

northeast ridge 5.6, 6 pitches

sykes' sickle 5.9+, 7 pitches

sport

andrology 5.12b

the golden staircase 5.11a, 18 pitches

Me and carter did this sport link up at the Crags on Twin Sisters.

notes

• dirtbagging in estes is HARD! There's no free campsites to be found, unless you have the off-roading capabilities to drive down pole hill road or up to the monestary. I spent the season living out of the highway pull-off to Lion's gate trailhead, but by mid-season it seems like everyone was parking there.

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