Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Another fantastic day scrambling in the Flatirons of Boulder, CO. We started from Chautauqua Trailhead and first went up to the base of Second Flatiron. Instead of the popular Freeway route, I chose to go up an alternative route called Dodge Block, which is similar to Freeway in difficulty (class 5.0, 750ft) but with a bit more route-finding challenges and variety of climbing. After exiting at the same spot as Freeway, we went on to check out the Southwest Face of First Flatiron (rated as 5.2), which is the easiest route to reach the summit of the First. This route consists of a steep ramp on the southern edge of the formation. It requires some effort to get on the ramp, but once on it the climbing is mostly class 4 with good holds but high exposure. At the top of the ramp is the crux of the route, a 25ft vertical wall to reach the summit. One can find good holds every few feet up on the left side, and then a short traverse to the right will leads to the fantastic summit of the First Flatiron. It was the first time I reached the top of First Flatiron, and I got to enjoy it all by myself. The downclimb of SW Face was a bit intense but I made it down without too much trouble. We then took the 1st/2nd Flatirons Trail back to Chautauqua TH in about 40 min
Music:
Ethereal/Rise, by Punch Deck
Ascension/Drift Among Infinite Stars, by Scott Buckley
00:00 Second Flatiron - Dodge Block
09:04 First Flatiron - SW Face
13:37 Summit Views and Descent
Another fantastic day scrambling in the Flatirons of Boulder, CO. We started from Chautauqua Trailhead and first went up to the base of Second Flatiron. Instead of the popular Freeway route, I chose to go up an alternative route called Dodge Block, which is similar to Freeway in difficulty (class 5.0, 750ft) but with a bit more route-finding challenges and variety of climbing. After exiting at the same spot as Freeway, we went on to check out the Southwest Face of First Flatiron (rated as 5.2), which is the easiest route to reach the summit of the First. This route consists of a steep ramp on the southern edge of the formation. It requires some effort to get on the ramp, but once on it the climbing is mostly class 4 with good holds but high exposure. At the top of the ramp is the crux of the route, a 25ft vertical wall to reach the summit. One can find good holds every few feet up on the left side, and then a short traverse to the right will leads to the fantastic summit of the First Flatiron. It was the first time I reached the top of First Flatiron, and I got to enjoy it all by myself. The downclimb of SW Face was a bit intense but I made it down without too much trouble. We then took the 1st/2nd Flatirons Trail back to Chautauqua TH in about 40 min
Music:
Ethereal/Rise, by Punch Deck
Ascension/Drift Among Infinite Stars, by Scott Buckley
00:00 Second Flatiron - Dodge Block
09:04 First Flatiron - SW Face
13:37 Summit Views and Descent
