ABSTRACT
The main characteristic of rock climbing in Colorado in the early 1970’s was a renaissance of free climbing. The concept of environmental preservation of rock climbs found ready acceptance among climbers during the 1970’s. Environmental thinking in rock climbing paralleled public awareness of ecology and conservation issues, and the greening of the rock face progressed step by step with the greening of America. In contrast to aesthetic and environmental considerations, free climbing developments also emphasized the competitive side of rock climbing. During the early 1970’s, a speeding up of communication among rock climbers took place which significantly affected the nature of rock climbing. In 1969, Erickson free climbed Rincon, the route on the west side of Redgarden Wall originally climbed by Kor and Turner, and again demonstrated his talent for undergrading. A characteristic of many free climbs of the early seventies was moves of extreme technical difficulty, yet close to protection and made in relative safety.
