2015-16 Colorado Ice Conditions

Donald private message me.

Seth

Not me, just sharing

http://14erskiers.com/blog/2012/11/the-season-begins-at-least-on-the-ice-11-3-12/

Has anyone been up to the park lately? Is there any climbable ice?

Thanks

Jewel Lake ice in RMNP (aka Overflow) is a thin smear. Also hard to get to.

Bottom of the smear.

I'm waiting to see the first photos of Lincoln... Anyone close?

Lincoln.

Lincoln.

Lincoln.

Lincoln is looking good. More than enough to get on and play around.

GregMiller wrote:Jewel Lake ice in RMNP (aka Overflow) is a thin smear. Also hard to get to.

That place is never easy to get to.

Ben Coryell wrote:Has anyone been up to the park lately? Is there any climbable ice? Thanks

There's virtually no ice at Loch Vale nor any water dripping looks unusually dry this year I doubt any of these lines will even form this year...

Took this from a hiking FB page. Credit to MB 11/1 photo

Columbine Falls.

Columbine looks pretty fragile. Top out looks sketchy too. Hopefully all the eager beavers will stay off it for a little while so it can build up before it gets beat to death.

Jon H wrote:Columbine looks pretty fragile. Top out looks sketchy too. Hopefully all the eager beavers will stay off it for a little while so it can build up before it gets beat to death.

I can delete the picture, cuz you know they won't.

The D on 11/1.

I lead Columbine Falls last weekend. It is just fine. Pretty thin and undermined in places. Didn't take good screws and the upper slab isn't stable. WI4 R. Wait a little while and it will be in WI3 condition for the armchair quarterbacks.

FWIW, also climbed the 60 foot smear on the far left and it was really nice. WI2+ condition with hero sticks. Felt a lot like the last pitch of AMU.

One of the central lines was over 100 feet and in excellent condition. Most of the other stuff was either too thin or not that interesting. It's been warm and any ice that has formed has suffered due to it. Lots of running water, shitty gear, but super moderate. This is a great place to go explore early season.

Dutchman looks like it is not quite there. DW looks like it could be snowy rocky fun right now. I've heard other reports that Fields is dry and obviously nothing is happening on the lower east face of Longs.

Anyways, what we should really be focused on is the condition of Martha. ANYONE SEE ANYTHING?? Eric??

Columbine Falls.

That looks awesome

Anyone willing to share locations of ice in the fraser valley area?

I broke trail through Glacier Gorge to Black Lake today to have a look at things:

All Mixed Up - top section forming well, not much ice visible below. Hard to see since everything was coated in snow.

Jewell Lake & Overflow - looked like it would go from the trail, but I could not see the bottom through the trees

Black Lake West Gully - looked climbable

The lakes still have some open water around the edges and outlets and the streams are still open, complicating the approaches. The climb up the outfall of Black Lake required snowshoes.

The pics came out poorly - falling snow, flat light, and snow covered rock. Not of much use.

I just sent a new ice route in Vail that has never been done before!

I named it "The Tape Worm" WI9R+VS

Hurry!! before all this moisture has its way, and turns it into a mere top rope…

The Fang in WI9 condition.

EnglewoodTim wrote:Anyone willing to share locations of ice in the fraser valley area?

there are a few scattered bits of ice hidden around the pass. the east face of russell often forms a good line about 40-50 feet tall but it's right in the middle of an often skied slide path so take that for what you will.

the indian peaks forms some decent alpine ice but is usually snow covered for much of the earlier part of the season. i don't know much about water ice around there because i wasn't much of an ice climber when i lived there. i do know that georgetown/silver plume area has ice and isn't very far away.

i've seen some ice up on the cliffs above cottonwood pass but they're all on private property and the land owner was less than pleasant when i asked about the possibility of going up and having a look.

how long have you lived in the valley? i actually just moved away less than a month ago

Check out Mt. Craig, above Grand Lake.
Closest ice to Fraser Valley I know of...

DNF.
South mineral creek climbs are in. Followed a moosetrack in the snow on the approach.