A climber returns every few months to free solo the First Flatiron near Boulder, a 1,200-foot sandstone route he learned a decade ago. The 20-minute approach hike and the climb itself offer escape from city noise into a meditative, solitary practice.
The Flatirons are one of Boulder's most recognizable and prominent features in the landscape. They're a series of sandstone cliffs that overlook the city of Boulder. The First Flatiron is one of the largest and closest to town and has a beautiful long winding rock climb that goes right up the middle of the face and gains the ridgeline at the top before reaching the summit. It's one of the most famous free solo routes in the country and I've been doing it and coming back there for many years. I was first shown the route probably about 10 years ago, and every few months I'll go back and do the free solo rock climb on it. And it's just such a beautiful way to get away from the noise of life and spend some time in solitude. And in intimate contact with the rock really feels like a spiritual experience. Technically, the main route up the First Flatiron isn't all that challenging for most experienced rock climbers, but still requires careful attention, placement of hands and feet, and a sound mind. It goes up about 1,200 feet from bottom to top, so you want to stay focused and really in the moment. It's about a 20-minute hike up from the road up to the base of the route, so that gives me time to transition from city life, fast-paced life, and drop in, slow down, connect with myself. With nature, with the moment, before I set out on this really special, beautiful rock climb up the First Flatiron.
