Team Tuesday Climbing: Sailing Hawks

Oh man, it was tough leaving Moab. I've always loved the red rock country, and Big Bend is such a sweet little boulder field. I could have played there for days. If I had to leave Moab, Durango was the place to split to. A picturesque little mountain town in southwest Colorado, Durango is 21 miles south of the Purgatory ski area, and about 30 miles east of Mesa Verde National Park. With an elevation of 6500 feet, Durango is a great spot for travelling climbers to hang out during the summer months. Late September there felt like Tucson's late fall - sunny but not too warm days, crisp and cool nights. The city, while small, definitely has that mountain town vibe. Lots of young and active looking people walking around town, and every car seems to have bike rack, a ski rack and an Access Fund sticker.

The climbing around town is pretty phenomenal as well. Tons of sandstone cliffs and boulders, plus two limestone sport climbing areas. One bouldering area - Sailing Hawks - had been 'access sensitive' for many years, but the land was recently purchased by the city and the bouldering is now legit. A huge scattering of sandstone boulders minutes from downtown, Sailing Hawks is a lot of fun. Kerry and I went for a few hours one afternoon, and I headed back out solo the next morning. Sailing Hawks has great problems of all grades, and tons of variety - overhangs, slopers, slabs, aretes, etc. Here is a little of what we caught on film.

Warm Up Boulder - lots o' jugs, tons o ' fun: