We will rock you: climbing in Boulder, Colorado

need to think about "climbing season", because in Boulder you can climb all year round.

I've spent cold winter mornings slogging through snow and ice on the one-hour approach to the Industrial Wall near Eldorado Canyon, only to find myself comfortably basking in a sun trap at the base of the crag, wearing just a T-shirt. But beware, even in winter the rays are strong and the price most outdoor enthusiasts pay is well-weathered skin – we like to think of those wrinkles as a logbook of life's extracurricular activity.

But what truly makes the Front Range the epicentre of rock climbing is the community. Never again will you have to search for a partner who shares your goals for the day. Never again will you spend a lonely evening in the gym trying to motivate yourself with just an iPod. And never again will you wish for a crew to jaw with over a few beers about that epic day you blew your shoulder out on the crux move of your bouldering project.

And if your 'ceps are starting to feel a little overdeveloped and you are starting to adopt that characteristic climber hunchback, there are numerous other athletic communities you can join. Pick up a mountain bike, train for a marathon, navigate rapids in a kayak – Colorado's got it all, and we can quickly help you balance out those muscle groups.