Photos: Vertical Running in Boulder’s Tour de Flatirons

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Photos: Vertical Running in Boulder’s Tour de Flatirons

Every fall for the past 12 years, a diverse group of trail runners and rock climbers have gathered at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colo., to participate in a ritual called the Tour de Flatirons. Known as Satan’s Minions, this group speeds up the tall sandstone formations that make up Boulder’s famous skyline, blurring the line between running, climbing and scrambling. The group typically meets once a week for several weeks in September and October, but the Tour de Flatirons events are informal, unofficial gatherings (participants don’t call it a race) and definitely not sanctioned events open to the public. Scaling the Flatirons requires trail running or climbing shoes with sticky rubber outsoles and a climbing harness, plus considerable technical prowess and aerobic fitness.

Overall, participants covered 3.7 miles with 2,584 feet of elevation, with 1,850 feet of technical climbing (including a section rated 5.6 on the First Flatiron) and two rappelling sections. The fastest of the “minions,” Matthias Messner, finished the route in 57 minutes, 39 seconds—about 3 minutes ahead of Stefan Griebel (1:00:42) and Ryan Franz (1:00:54). Champion trail runner Anton Krupicka was the fourth finisher (1:03:16) after a bit of a snafu with his rappelling rope.

Check out the amazing photos below to learn more about the rugged nature of the Tour de Flatirons! (And watch this video, too!)

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

The first 2015 Tour de Flatirons event gets underway in Chautauqua Park with a fast upward half mile to the base of the Second Flatiron. The 2015 Tour de Flatirons started this week by linking up the three most iconic—and largest—of the Flatirons via a route that sent participants up the Freeway route on the Second Flatiron, then down a trail to the base of the First Flatiron, up the Direct East Face of the First Flatiron, and then over a rugged talus route to the East Bench of the Third Flatiron and an ascent up the Standard East Face before finally running back on trails to the finish at Chautauqua Park. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Matthias Messner was the early leader on the climb up the Second Flatiron. Photo: Eric Lee

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

With Messner off the front and Ryan Franz, Stefan Griebel and Anton Krupicka close behind, numerous other minions had started the first climb. Photo: Eric Lee

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Joe Grant ascended the Second Flatiron as early evening shadows descended on Boulder. Photo: Eric Lee

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Bill Wright, one of the founders of Satan's Minions, worked his way up an upper section of the Second Flatiron. Photo: Eric Lee

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Messner started the climb up the First Flatiron with a narrow lead over Anton Krupicka. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Krupicka was about a minute behind Messner as he started to maneuver his way up the First Flatiron. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Scrambling up the First Flatiron, Krupicka began to close the gap on Messner. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Darren Smith, Cordis Hall and Stefan Griebel were among the next of Satan's Minions to start the climb of the First Flatiron. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Messner was in the lead with Krupicka close behind 300 feet up the First Flatiron while Franz and Griebel gave chase below. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Cordis Hall topped out on the First Flatiron as the sun was starting to set on the western horizon. Photo: Eric Lee

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Kendrick Callaway rappels off the First Flatiron. The rappel off the First Flatiron was optional—downclimbing that section was also fair game. Photo: Eric Lee

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

The leading participants were spread out over the final ascent up the Third Flatiron. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Ryan Franz, Anton Krupicka and Stefan Griebel worked their way up the Third Flatiron in close proximity to each other. Photo: Eric Lee

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Anton Krupicka (top) prepares to descend off the top of the Third Flatiron, as Ryan Franz and Stefan Griebel work their way down the 190-foot free rappel. Krupicka's line got snagged, so he ended up rappelling to Friday’s Folly, then downclimbing the rest of the Third. Photo: Eric Lee

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Messner blasted down the final section of trail in the lead. He was the first finisher in 57:39. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Stefan Griebel closed hard to become the second finisher, about 3 minutes behind Messner and 12 seconds ahead of hard-charging Ryan Franz coming down the path behind him. Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Krupicka was the fourth to finish after 1:03:16 of running, climbing and scrambling. (He was slowed a bit after getting snagged in the tangled rappel ropes off the back of the Third Flatiron.) Photo: Peter N. Jones

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Boulder's Tour de Flatirons

Krupicka swapped stories and shared laughs with the top three finishers—Messner (1st), Ryan Franz (3rd) and Stefan Griebel (2nd). Photo: Peter N. Jones

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