Worst Places to Climb in the Summer

As a follow up to the best places to climb in the summer, here are my picks for the worst places to climb in the summer, unless heat stroke is one of your goals this year.

The Puoux – It always boggles my mind to see people climbing here in the warmer months. This crag is an oven and sits in the blazing sun all day. Add to that the noise from I-70 and you’ve got probably the worst place to climb in the summer… Maybe ever.

Main Elk/Fortress – Dead south facing, a visit to these cliffs in the heat of the summer will likely leave you burned to a crisp. Come back in January.

Rifle Arch – These south facing sandstone slabs will cook you hotter than an egg in a frying pan. It’s best to come back in the cooler months, even winter can be good here if the sun is shining and there hasn’t been any recent snows.

Redstone – The greasy cobbles on most of the problems here can be damn near impossible to hold on to in the summer, never mind trying to keep your feet on them! A hot day is definitely not the time you want to find yourself at the Redstone Boulders.

Early summer and fall are probably the best times for climbing in the Roaring Fork valley. It seems like no matter where you want to go, you’ll have good conditions. Good thing September is right around the corner!