On March 6 a solo climber attempted Call the Copps, an ephemeral ice climb (WI3 M3) on the east face of the Second Flatiron. When he found the route deteriorating in warm weather and threatened by falling ice, he instead climbed mixed terrain near the most popular rock route up the face (5.0) until he reached a point where he felt he couldn’t climb up or down. Fearing a fall, he called for help and Rocky Mountain Rescue assisted his escape from the face. (Source: News articles and first-person report at MountainProject.com.)

ANALYSIS

Although the climber started fairly early (he called for help around 9 a.m.), conditions change rapidly on these sunny faces. The ability to judge conditions and willingness to turn around—integral to successful alpine climbing—apply no less on “practice climbs” within shouting distance of a small city. (Source: The Editors.)