Wanderaroundfreely
Jul 2011
The personal service we received from the time we met Cliff Powers at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center on Monday, July 4th, 2011, until we left Stewart Green in the Main parking lot (North Lot) at the North Gateway Rock on Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 was incredible! No, we did not spend three days with these guys. We did, however, receive a highly personalized, individualized set of instruction and climbing guide services split up over two different days.
We arrived in COS looking to do an number of things, including rock climbing. When we met Cliff (one of the owners of FRCC) at the Visitor’s center, we knew immediately we were in for an awesome experience. Cliff realized that we had a busy schedule and took the time to customize our climbing experience over two different days.
We started by visiting the Red Rock Canyon Open Space, RRCOS, and lead climbing on El Sol route, on sight climbing Pike’s Peak Route, and finishing on South Pipe Route. This was our first experience on slab sandstone, but it was an incredible first experience, thanks to the guidance from Cliff. We have been climbing limestone routes in Ohio and spending time at the climbing gym, so this was new rock for us and it has opened up our climbing world! While climbing El Sol, climbing legend and pioneer Stewart Green arrived at our site. I was so amazed to find that such an accomplished climber and author (over 25 books in publication) was on staff with FRCC! While visiting, Stewart agreed to guide us on Wednesday for our first climbs in The Garden of the Gods.
When we met in the main parking lot on Wednesday, we were both in a bit of a state of disbelief that we would be climbing to the summit of the Kissing Camels on North Gateway Rock. Stewart’s guidance and instruction was impeccable and five pitches later we were sitting atop the summit! The view is indescribable! We truly felt as if we were sitting on top of the world. This was originally scheduled to be the only climb of the day for us, but Stewart asked if we were interested in going to the summit of South Gateway Rock while we were there and we jumped at the chance. Not only did we get to climb one summit in the park with a world class climber and guide, we were going to get two climbs! This was just one more example of the incredible service provided by FRCC. They truly wanted to help give us the climbing experience of our lives! And, they did!
Like the title says, I can’t describe in words what the staff of FRCC has given us. Thanks to Cliff Powers and Stewart Green for showing us a whole new world of climbing!