There's nothing like a big easy climb with perfect rock and a fantastic view. My parents were visiting me, and my younger brother Jim was along, too. Jim had climbed a little in gym class at school, and knew the basic elements of belaying. However, he had never climbed outside on real rock. On the Saturday of his visit, we climbed Freeway on the 2nd Flatiron. I chose this route because of its non committing nature and the easy descent - step off the back side and walk down the trail.

I think Jim was bored. The next day he suggested that we do something bigger. The Third Flatiron had been looming over us the previous day, and the bird closure had just been lifted, so with a little arm twisting Jim talked me into heading up it. It was a gray day, threatening to rain. We got a mid afternoon start, and hiked in to the base. I had never done the Third, so my knowledge of the route was limited. My rack was four 2 foot runners and a 5 foot runner - a friend had said there really wasn't any cracks for pro. It appeared rain was imminent, but it had looked that way all day, so with a bit of trepidation I led off on the first pitch.

The climbing was fantastic. We chased another group the whole way up, but other than them we had the whole face to ourselves. We were pleased to make the summit without getting rained on. Jim seemed unaffected by the exposure, and thoroughly enjoyed himself. I was careful to set up his rappel on extended slings before I rapped - that way I made sure it was done right and we avoided trouble. In Jim's first two days ever on rock, he climbed nearly 2000 feet and made the major summit in the Boulder area. Not too bad...

The pictures here were taken on my second trip up the 3rd, with Mark Neubauer. (Jim and I inadvertently climbed the 3rd with a camera with an already exposed roll of film.) The picture above is of Mark high on the East Face. Below, I included a picture of a friend Mark and I met on the trail on the way back to the car.

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