Shelf Road
April 21-23, 2023

Colorado

Wheelchair Icon

Skill Level:
No experience necessary!

Level 3

Accessibility Rating:
1 = Least Accessible
5 = Most Accessible

Rock Climbing

Category:
Rock Climbing

tent

Lodging:
Camping

Group Size

Group Size:
15 – 30

COST: $175 per person

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OVERVIEW

Join the Paradox Sports community for a weekend of adaptive climbing on the cliffs at Shelf Road. Start your outdoor climbing season with a great crew! This weekend features two days of climbing, camping and celebrating the beginning of another great outdoor climbing season. This event is open to everyone! Bring your partner, family, or friends and climb together – whether you have a disability or not. This weekend is about our diverse community. We will be hosting dinners, hot drinks, and bonfires all weekend!

Shelf Road is one of the most popular sport climbing areas in Colorado, and one of the oldest in the country. The limestone cliffs offer more than 1000 established routes, divided among several areas/crags and ranging from 5.4 to 5.14. There is something here for everyone! We provide instruction for all ages, ability, mobility levels and types.

**Note:  For this year’s Shelf Road trip, proof of Covid vaccination is required to attend.**

ACCESSIBILITY

The approach to the climbing sites is varied, but is generally characterized as being rough, uneven trails with rocks, boulders, stone steps, sand and gravel. The trails are typical “able bodied” climber trails with limited development in regards to ensuring total accessibility. Depending on mobility level, the approach can range from 20 minutes to 45 minutes and can require the assistance of volunteers. The trail accessibility for chair users and those with limited mobility is very difficult. The approach ranges from 1/4 to 1/2 mile, however participants will have ample support in traveling over this terrain by staff, guides and volunteers but should have a base level of comfort traveling in this type of terrain. If you have limited mobility, and have questions on the approach/accessibility, please contact us.
This trip is a car camping trip – please come prepared for all weather! Individuals should be prepared to bring their own camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, pads, cook setup, etc.). Paradox has some gear available to loan if requested.
Paradox Sports strives to serve all individuals regardless of ability, and encourages individuals considering this program to review our Essential Eligibility Criteria here. If you have specific questions about this program, please contact us at info@paradoxsports.org.

TRIP SCHEDULE

NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change.
A finalized schedule will be emailed to you before the trip.

FRIDAY

4 PM: Arrive and set-up camp
6 PM: Welcome dinner and program overview
8 PM: Campfire

SATURDAY

8 AM: Breakfast at Camp
9 AM – 4 PM: Full day of climbing (pack your own lunch for the crag)
4 PM – 5:30 PM Free time
5:30 PM: Dinner and campfire hangout under the stars

SUNDAY

8AM: Breakfast at Camp
9 AM – 2 PM: Half day of climbing (pack your own lunch for the crag)
2 PM: Pack up and depart Shelf Road
Photos
FAQs
Packing List

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We encourage participants to have basic outdoor experience and at minimum an introductory understanding of either rock climbing. Each year we welcome first-time climbers into our community, right alongside some of the best in the world. There will be routes available for a wide variety of skill levels, and coaches to help you succeed – whatever your goal may be. Our climbing will range from 5.7-5.10, with the majority of routes falling around the 5.8-5.9 range.

*Proof of Covid vaccination required.

This trip is a car camping trip – please come prepared for all weather! Individuals should be prepared to bring their own camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, pads, cook setup, etc.). Paradox has some gear available to loan if requested.
We will be camping at a group site at the Sand Gulch Campground at an elevation of 6,450 feet near an open meadow and trail access to the Sand Gulch Climbing area. There is limited cell phone service and no running water at camp, please bring sufficient amount of water for the weekend – and Paradox Sports will also have water to share. The campground facilities include picnic tables, fire rings and tent pads. Campers will use pit toilets at camp – a permanent structure with a toilet but no running water. While climbing at the crag, you will use the facilities in nature and follow Leave No Trace principles. This is Bureau of Land Management operated and camping fees are including in your registration.

All participants and volunteers are responsible for their transportation to and from the event as well as during the weekend.

Shelf Road is located 10 miles north of Cañon City, about 2.5 hours from Denver. You are required to travel on dirt roads to get to camp, but a 2WD vehicle will be fine. There is limited cell phone service once you hit the dirt road. Be prepared and have your directions loaded prior to losing service! Paradox Sports can help connect you with rideshare options from an airport en route or from the Denver/Boulder area with other participants or volunteers joining, depending on ride availability. During registration you will have the option to request carpool, and include where you will be coming from.
DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 50 in Cañon City, you can turn north at the Steinmeier traffic light (at Wal-Mart) or head North on Raynolds at the next traffic light. Travel north on either road as both will curve to the left and intersect Field Avenue. Turn north (right) on Field and travel on this two-lane road for about five miles. It will join Fremont County Road 9 (also called Red Canyon Road) at a “Y” intersection. From here, continue north for 9.4 miles. You will see two roads on the left before the road you are traveling on turns to dirt. Take the first one you come to and stay right at the next “Y” intersection following the signs to Sand Gulch Campground. If you drive by a corral and a trailer parking area you took the second left which takes you to the Banks Campground. For the Banks Campground, continue on the steep windy dirt road for approximately 1.25 miles. The campground will be on your right.
The closest airport is Denver International Airport.

We encourage climbers to bring their own personal gear if possible, including a harness, helmet, and climbing shoes. All group gear, including ropes, anchor material, bouldering pads will be provided. Climbers will also need to bring all personal camping gear, including tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and appropriate clothing. Paradox Sports has a limited range of climbing shoes, helmets, harnesses, and camping gear available to loan if you need to borrow please indicate in your registration. You can see a full packing list for trips at the button above, and we are happy to answer any questions about gear that you might have!

Paradox will provide Friday night dinner, Saturday breakfast and dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Individuals are responsible for their own lunches and snacks during the day at the crag. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, please include that in your registration.

Due to the nature of this program, volunteers should have previous experience on a Paradox Sports trip, attended a Paradox Sports volunteer training, Adaptive Climbing Initiative course, and/or be an experienced climber. We encourage all volunteers to have experience in the outdoors. Volunteers are expected to belay, be comfortable assisting others through variable terrain, and have at least an introductory understanding of climbing and the associated equipment. Paradox Sports reserves the right to assign volunteers to appropriate roles based on the assessment of experience, skills, comfort and overall ability.
Volunteers register through the link above, and select “Volunteer Registration”. The cost for volunteering with the same as the cost for adaptive climbers. As a non-profit, we need to cover our cost to operate and this includes both participants and volunteers pitching in to cover trips costs. Often the lines between “participant” and “volunteer” are indistinguishable as we enjoy a weekend of climbing as a community. Registration fees for everyone cover food, lodging, equipment, professional guides, extra programming, insurance, and other overhead for planning the trip. It takes a lot to make these programs succeed – we thank you for your contribution both physically and financially.
If you are an AMGA certified guide and want to volunteer guide time on any of our programs, please contact our Program Manager Sam Sala at sam@paradoxsports.org.

What’s Included:

•    Professional guides and instruction with a ratio of 2:1
•    Camping and Guide Fees
•    Meals: Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner; Sunday breakfast and lunch
•    Gear: Technical rock climbing equipment (please indicate your gear needs in your registration)

What’s Not Included:

•    Transportation: All participants and volunteers are responsible for getting to and from the event, as well as transportation during the weekend.
•   Guardian / Partner registrations: Each registration is for one individual only. If your friends, significant other, guardian or personal aid would like to join, we ask that they register as a volunteer for the trip and help cover the costs of lodging, meals, logistics, guides, etc. and that they are eager and willing to be an active part of the community for the weekend!
•   Alcohol is not included, and not permitted while on Paradox Sports programs.
* For information on financial assistance please see more details here.

We have a cancellation policy to ensure the maximum number of climbers can attend and spots do not go unused.

If you cancel:

•    2 weeks or more before the event, you will receive a full refund of your registration fees unless costs were incurred by Paradox Sports; in that case, we may retain 10% of your registration fee.
•   Less than 2 weeks before the event and we cannot fill your spot, you will be charged 50% of the registration fee.
•   Without notice (no-show) your registration fee is non-refundable and we will retain the full fee.
•   For cancellations due to emergency situations and special cases, please contact us to discuss options. We will work with you for the best solution.

Questions? Please contact us at info@paradoxsports.org or by phone 720-638-5593

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