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.

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

What you need to bring will vary depending on the type of trip, time of year, lodging situation, length, or other factors! You will be emailed a complete packing list specific to your trip prior to the event along with other trip information, but here are some example items of what to pack:

CLOTHING:

Being properly dressed is essential to enjoying your outdoor adventures. Layering will give you more versatility, depending on the weather and your activity level.

• Wool or Synthetic Shirts: No cotton! Cotton keeps you cold if you sweat and it takes a long time to dry out, while wicking fabrics help you regulate your core temperature and avoid overheating or chilling.
• Pants: Synthetic abrasion resistant pants are best for climbing. Lightweight and stretchy to allow you to move are the rock are ideal!
• Waterproof and Breathable Shell: Rain jacket with a hood should always be in your pack just in case.
• Insulating Jacket: A heavy fleece, down or synthetic puffy jacket to keep you warm in the shade at the crag or at night – especially for camping trips.
• Footwear: Climbing shoes if you have them, hiking shoes for the approach, flip flops for at the crag.

GEAR

If you do not have your own, you can request to borrow any necessary gear during registration.

• Personal Hydration System: water bottles or bladder with a hose in your backpack. Recommended to have at least 2 (1) Liter bottles.
• Backpack: large enough to hold all your gear without strapping extra gear to the side.  It’s nice to have a pack that has a hip belt to help support the weight. Recommended size is 25-35L pack.
• Climbing Helmet: required!
• Climbing Harness
• Climbing Shoes
• Chalk Bag (optional)
• Belay Device (optional)
• Two Locking Carabiners (optional)
• One long runner or sling (optional)
• Any adaptive equipment or systems you use for climbing. For example, Evolv Climbing shoe and TRS foot!

Additional Gear for CAMPING TRIPS:

• Camp chair for at crag or at camp
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Pad
• Pillow
• Gloves
• Warm Hat
• Bowl and utensils
• Headlamp
• Bug Spray

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:

• Personal hygiene products, toiletries
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm and hat for sun protection
• Medications – please let us know if you have medications that require refrigeration
• Camera – light, point and shoot or phone recommended
• Phone chargers
• Athletic tape
• Travel Mug for hot beverages
• Snacks and Food: Typically, meals are provided, and we will have some snacks and bars available.  However, you may want to consider bringing some snacks of your own, especially if you have dietary constraints.

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.

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 group-camping at The Bank Campground, within walking distance of our climbing areas. 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.

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!

All participants and climbing assistants 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, turn north onto Dozier Street (near Walmart).  Dozier will travel north for about a mile, then curve west.  Half a mile after the curve, you will arrive at a 4-way stop at Field Ave.  Turn right (north) onto Field Ave. and follow north.  At 2.2 miles, it will ‘Y’ into Red Canyon Rd (Fremont County Rd 9).  From here, continue north for 9.7 miles (the paved road will bend west and east several times, just stay on the paved road).  Near 9.7 miles, take the SECOND dirt road on the left (there is a sign with arrows for Cripple Creek to the right and The Bank to the left – follow the arrow to The Bank). Take care driving up this road especially in a 2wd vehicle as it is rough in a few spots.

The closest airport is Denver International Airport or Colorado Springs Airport.

Paradox will provide Friday night dinner, Saturday breakfast and dinner, and Sunday breakfast. Paradox will provide food supplies for ‘build your own’ lunches for Saturday and Sunday, including snack items. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, please include that in your registration.

Due to the nature of this program, climbing assistants 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 assistants to have experience in the outdoors. Assistants 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 assistants to appropriate roles based on the assessment of experience, skills, comfort and overall ability.

Assistants register through the link above, and select “Assistant Climber Registration”. The cost for assisting 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 assistants pitching in to cover trips costs. Often the lines between “participant” and “assistant” 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.

•    Professional guides and instruction
•    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.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of our programs, Paradox Sports has a no pets policy. If you have a service animal that you plan to bring with you on a program, please be sure to let us know in advance and familiarize yourself with this Service Animal Agreement . We will require a signed copy of this agreement from anyone bringing a service dog with them on the trip.  If you bring any animals on a program that are not service animals, you may be asked to leave without reimbursement.

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

If you cancel:

•   30+ days before the event, you will receive a 100% refund of your registration fees.
•   Between 14 and 30 days before the event, if we cannot fill your spot, you will receive a 50% refund of your registration fees.
•   14 days or less before the event and we cannot fill your spot, then your registration fee is non-refundable and we will retain the full fee.
•   Without notice (no-show) your registration fee is non-refundable and we will retain the full fee.

*If you are asked to leave any Paradox Sports event by staff due to inappropriate behavior, you will not be refunded any fees in association with the trip or event, no matter the duration that you were in attendance.

Paradox Sports focuses on adaptive climbing opportunities for people with physical disabilities, including but not limited to people with amputation or limb difference, blindness, hearing impairment, spinal cord injuries, neurological issues, TBI and PTSD. Please see our full Essential Eligibility Criteria.

As a non-profit, we need to cover our cost to operate and this includes both participants and climbing assistants pitching in to cover trips costs. Often the lines between “participant” and “assistant” 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!

Although our main group of individuals on programs is adults, we have had a handful of minors join us on rock and ice climbing trips in the past! As a minor, we require a guardian join them and register as a volunteer.

Yes and we hope you can share these experiences with them! We ask that they register as a climbing assistant 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.

Yes! Our Program Leaders and Instructors are professionally trained and certified by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), often volunteering their time and expertise to help us expand adaptive climbing opportunities. They work for Paradox on a contract basis, taking time away from their full-time positions as guides with other companies.

With over 10 years of experience working with people with disabilities, the one thing we know for sure is that each disability is unique! You are the expert on you, and our motto has always been that we will work together to communicate and understand your needs. Each program leader, guide, and volunteer brings their own unique background and expertise as well – from physical therapy and medical backgrounds, to over a decade of adaptive climbing experience.

Yes! We encourage participants to bring their own gear if you have it so you can get familiar with your own equipment, however we do provide gear to climbers who need it. You will be able to list your gear needs during registration. Required gear for any program: helmet, harness, climbing shoes (or ice boots and crampons for ice climbing).

Accessibility is a focus for choosing our program areas. However, each program area presents different terrain and unique challenges depending on the adaptive athlete. We strive to provide assistance to all our adaptive athletes in all of our program areas, however, we also recognize the spectrum of adaptive athletes and recognize not all our climbing areas may be accessible to all athletes.

It is always our goal to empower our participants! Our certified guides and qualified climbing assistants are eager to answer questions and help you grow as a climber, within a safe environment. We also offer specific skill building courses for adaptive athletes that want to take their climbing to the next level. We are happy to answer any questions you have and teach some technical skills. We do not provide lead climbing opportunities on Paradox trips (unless backed up on toprope).

Paradox Sports has a thorough Emergency Response System and Emergency Response Team. At the beginning of each program, we will work with the climbing assistants and climbers to communicate risks and what to do in case of an emergency. The majority of guide, program leads, and Paradox staff also are Wilderness First Responder certified and many volunteers serve on Search and Rescue teams. You are in good hands!

Depending on what trip you are participating on, the packing list varies. You will be sent a full packing list prior to the event. Please see our suggested packing lists at the bottom of the Legacy Trips page.

Paradox Sports does not provide transportation directly, however during registration volunteers and participants are asked about their travel plans/needs. We are happy to connect people interested in carpooling that are coming from the same areas!

If you are signing up for rock or ice climbing, you likely already have a sense of adventure! Sometimes the path to the crag is not ADA accessible, or the lodging options are limited in these remote areas, but we work as a community to figure it out. After you register for your climbing trip, we will review your application and be in touch to discuss the specific logistics around your trip.  

On each Paradox trip there is a full spectrum of experience levels. If you are an experienced climber, we can promise you an engaging community, coaching by AMGA certified guides, a diversity of routes and a great overall trip experience. However, we do not provide lead-climbing opportunities on Paradox Sports programs.

We try to cover all common needs such as vegetarianism, dairy-free, gluten-free, and allergies. If you are severely allergic to foods, require specific or more frequent snacks, or are worried about cross-contamination, bringing your own snacks is always an option as well. Depending on the trip, some meals are cooked as a group and others are provided by local restaurants.  If you have allergies, please list them in your registration and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Yes we can definitely take care of that for you!

Participants on our trips have historically administered their own medications. Paradox Sports staff is not QMAP certified and will not administer medication to participants. If someone is a minor or requires medical assistance, they have often had someone qualified join them on the trip.

We understand that injuries happen, work gets in the way, or other issues arise that mean you cannot join the trip. You can see the full cancellation policy at the bottom of the Legacy Trips page.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of our programs, Paradox Sports has a no pets policy.  If you have a service animal that you plan to bring with you on a program, please be sure to let us know in advance and familiarize yourself with this Service Animal Agreement.  We will require a signed copy of this agreement from anyone bringing a service dog with them on the trip.  If you bring any animals on a program that are not service animals, you may be asked to leave without reimbursement.

*Please be advised that some of our trips are not hospitable for service animals.  Our Ice Climbing trips include risks such as extreme cold, falling ice, crampons, potential exposed rivers, and more.  Our alpine trips include similar risks such as extreme weather, falling and loose rocks, impassable areas for an animal, etc.  If a staff member or guide encourages you to leave your dog at home, it is out of safety concern for your animal due to the dangers listed above.