We are proud to say: It is complete! We have finished our re-bolting efforts on the routes at Independence Pass, Colorado. We think this may be the first climbing area in the US to have the entire area upgraded to strong modern bolts.

Independence Pass is a collection of crags along Highway 82 near Aspen, CO. It offers a fantastic mixture of old school gear routes, mixed routes and modern sport climbs, all on high quality, rough gneiss. There are over 700 routes between Aspen and Twin Lakes, according to Tom Perkins, “Independence Pass Rock Climbing II” guidebook author and webmaster of this web site.

We think we have now replaced all the old ¼” bolts and Petzl self-drives with 3/8” and ½” bolts. Every bolt on Independence Pass area has been upgraded to 3/8” or ½” bolts. Over 100 bolts were replaced in this effort that took two summers --we finished up this month. We wore out a least a dozen drill bits in the process.

There may be a few old quarter inch spinners lurking out there on a few of the least traveled routes– we will replace them as we learn of them.

We’d like to again thank you, the ASCA and especially your sponsors, and contributors, without their generous support, we could not have undertaken this project.

I’d like to again thank Tom Perkins, Neil Beidleman, Mary Jane Golau, Charlotte Fox, “Bullet” Bob D’Antonio and everyone else who spent time helping to re-bolt The Pass.

Our next goal to modernize the belay stations and rappel anchors.

Reese Martin