GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Walking back to the shuttle, his red climbing helmet in hand, Lamar Chupp's words were evidence the Amish man from northern Indiana thoroughly enjoyed his latest vacation escapade.

“Too bad we don't have any cliffs by us,” he yelled out to his traveling companions, all fellow Amish and all hailing from either Chupp's hometown of Nappannee or neighboring communities.

Chupp and company had just finished rock climbing at a Glenwood Canyon hot spot known as The Puoux and were about to embark on their next adventure — a night at the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo.

With northern Indiana's recreational vehicle (RV) factories closing for a spell in the summer, the Amish are freed up to travel. Glenwood Springs, with its downtown Amtrak station, is a wildly popular destination.

As such, Amish tourists are a ubiquitous sight locally during the summer, and they aren't shy about taking advantage of the bountiful outdoor recreation opportunities the mountain town offers.

Chupp's crew rarely sat idle during their five-day stay.

Paragliding, rafting, Segway rides, a hike at Maroon Bells, a hayride dinner, a Hummer tour and horseback riding all found their way onto the group's itinerary. Glenwood Adventure Company facilitated all the activities.

“It's been a crazy week,” Chupp said, standing at the base of a climbing route in his off-white, collared shirt and dark gray trousers. Plain attire is common among the Amish, who live a simple lifestyle free of modern-day luxuries.

Climbing, like the host of other activities they completed, proved popular with this young bunch. Most were in the 20s and nearly all were inspired to head west upon hearing the tales of others who'd made the trip.

“I talked to people who came out here,” Chupp said. “One of the girls here was out here last year. She talked to all of her friends.”

“I always wanted to see the West,” said Lorraine Borkholder. “This is my first time out here. It sounded like a lot of fun.”

Climbing wasn't Borkholder's thing. As the group gathered for a climbing tutorial delivered by Glenwood Climbing Guides owner Mike Schneiter, a nervous Borkholder wouldn't put her climbing shoes on.

Eventually, the apprehension subsided and she gave it a whirl. She hitched up the below-the-knee skirt of her bright purple dress, her legs still modestly covered by a pair of long pants underneath, to put on the climbing harness.

“I just saw the others doing it and I wanted to try,” she said with a smile. “The view from up there was awesome.”

Others, like Chupp, took to climbing quickly.

Schneiter, who grew up on an Iowa farm and knows a thing or two about the agrarian lifestyle many Amish live, predicted the group would be naturals at climbing.

“They all looked fit,” he said. “You could see it when they walked up. They really come from a farming background and I grew up on a farm in Iowa. I feel like I had a connection with them in that way. I spent many days bucking bales of hay when I was a kid.”

Climbing harnesses and helmets contrasted in a fascinating way with the Amish's plain attire as the young group's members made their way up the routes.

“They climbed really well,” said Schneiter, whose business is midway through its first season and partners with Glenwood Adventure Company. “They were just great climbers and fun people to hang around with. They were not afraid to jump on the cliffs and start climbing.”

And Schneiter hopes Chupp and his traveling partners find some cliffs to climb back in Indiana.

“I would love to see some Amish riding their horses to go climbing,” he joked.

jcaspersen@postindependent.com