Colorado Bouldering: Front Range by Phillip Benningfield and Matt Samet

Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by B3 in Front Range, News

It’s been more than 10 years since a comprehensive bouldering guide to the Front Range of Colorado existed, but Colorado Bouldering: Front Range by Phillip Benningfield and Matt Samet from Sharp End Publishing is now complete! You can pre-order the book right here on B3, just click the link on the right side of the site. It is 288 full color pages jam-packed with info on all the best areas in the Front Range, including the Poudre Canyon, Eldorado Canyon, Carter Lake, Horsetooth Reservoir, Boulder Canyon, Flagstaff Mtn., Camp Dick, Morrison (north and south), the Flatirons, Clear Creek Canyon and many, many, more. There are hundreds of color photos from Andy Mann, Fred Knapp and others throughout. This is an indispensable resource for any serious boulderer living on Colorado. There are a number of fabulous essays in the book as well from long time locals Herman Feissner, Bennett Scott, Peter Beal, Paul Robinson, John Sherman, Scott Blunk, Andy Mann and others. The book retails for 32.95 and shipping is 7.95. With your pre-order you will receive a free ebook which you will get after you place an order. The physical book will be shipped out in mid-March! Help support my efforts here on B3 by purchasing the guidebook here! And of course the Rocky Mountain National Park and Mt. Evans Boudlering Guide is also still available just below. I am glad I can provide these books to the community! A guide like this is such a great resource to have for the boulderer just getting into climbing in Colorado (I know I my first Colorado Bouldering Guide is torn to shreds from so much use) and for the seasoned veteran looking for that obscure classic to go pickoff on the weekend.

Matt Wilder attempts the PB project, which Carlo Traversi recently climbed as The Altruist V13, which will sneak into the guide!

15 Responses to “Colorado Bouldering: Front Range by Phillip Benningfield and Matt Samet”

Aaron S

25. Jan, 2012

First your fantastic guide to RMNP and now this. I think I’m bookin’ myself a month in Boulder. You guys are AWESOME!
B3

25. Jan, 2012

Thanks! This guide really highlights the areas that are great when it’s too cold and snowy in the high country. I live in Colorado because there is no better place for year round bouldering!
Andy Mann

26. Jan, 2012

Awesome! My old guide looks about as tired. Faded & torn cover, loose binding, and chocked FULL of ticks, notes, and highlights. Thanks for posting Jamie.
eric

26. Jan, 2012

Have you seen the ebook yet? Just curious how it is.
B3

26. Jan, 2012

I have seen it, it looks great! It’s a pdf of the actual book. Easy to read and full color.
eric

27. Jan, 2012

So much for being a comprehensive updated guide. I bought the book, downloaded the pdf, went to Carter lake section cause it is in my back yard. Book mentions all the new development in Biglandia, but does not list one single boulder problem there. The falcon guide at least has some of the area. Why even mention it if they aren’t going to have it included in the book. My feeling is if you are going to do an area, do it right, not half-assed, like they did.
Elijah

27. Jan, 2012

How long after you order the book should you expect to wait before you receive the ebook?
Michael Rathke

28. Jan, 2012

Aaron send me an email when you go, Ide love to climb with you out there…
eric

30. Jan, 2012

I ordered the book one night, and got the ebook next day.
B3

30. Jan, 2012

@eric, as a guidebook author myself I agree! More information is always better, especially when advertised. I would encourage you to contact the author, Phillip Benningfield regarding your concerns. My knowledge of Carter Lake isn’t that great.
Ben Eaton

30. Jan, 2012

Just wanted to let you know that I am a loyal reader of your blog. Thanks for all the good reads.

Ben Eaton – The Chalk Pot
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/thechalkpot
Google+ Page: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/110624896606737126973/110624896606737126973/posts
eric

30. Jan, 2012

Thanks for the advice. It is more the idea that in the prelude to Carter lake, the guy rants and raves about all the new development in Biglandia, and then doesn’t list one single problem there. If he wasn’t going to put it in the guide, why list it? I have found some info from mining mountainproject.com rockclimbing.com and 8a.nu, but even the shitty falcon colorado bouldering guide has some stuff listed. I will send him an email. BTW, I love your guide!
cardboard dog

02. Feb, 2012

that tall iceberg looking boulder behind Kahuna fell off the sand cliff while I was living there. Pretty sure Pete Zoller climbed the back right arete like 2 days later and called it V7. That was many moons ago. You probably already knew that. Which means this post really isn’t all that helpful.
big poppachosscrush

07. Feb, 2012

just a quick note before slowly un-surfacing in the murk again like a prowling gator: everything great about jamie’s guidebook and phillip’s guidebook is directly related to my input. everything drawing critisizm for both of these books is directly attributable to jamie. and peter beal.
andrew

14. Feb, 2012

.

I was hoping to see the same quality/attention to detail that was in your book or any of the other quality releases in the past few years. Like Darren Mabes, Ben Scotts Poudre book or even the new BoCan book. However, I felt this reminded me more of the Bob Horan guide.

Having just finished the Ebook, I am very disappointed with the book. For the most part, it looks as if they copied and pasted from previous instalmments. The previous Colorado Bouldering lacked clarity in directions to boulders or how to start boulder problems and this problem hasn’t gotten any better, since they are the same.

The one area that was well done, was the Eldo piece. I assume that was thanks to Andy Mann who is an Eldo local? Also, Andy gets my thanks for the many excellent color photos.

Some other high points : Lumpy and Camp Dick. Not the areas as a whole, but the few new problems included.

As for Sock Hands comments that the guidebook comes from his input… I didn’t think he was serious until I noticed the similarity with the Ape city being the old FRB problem descriptions.

Seriously though, rely on Mountain Project (3 Sisters & CCC), Fixed Pin for anything around the Fort Collins area, Chips online guide to flagstaff, Peters web based (rarely updated) Boulder Canyon Bouldering website Blog, and FRB (Gross Ress).