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The Fang as of Jan 12, 2002
Description
This is the coolest looking ice climb in Colorado (in my opinion). It is a 120' free hanging icicle right of the Rigid Designator and used to form only once every 5 years or so until someone started hanging a rope down it. Now it forms more consistently, but it usually doesn't touch down until much later than the Designator, and even then can form poorly and fall down a few times before thickening.
I have seen this climb form as a pencil only 5' in diameter and one year it was thicker than the Designator. Consider carefully the stability of this climb before leading or toproping it. Fortunately it never sees any sun. It is not simple to scramble to the top of the Fang (although it is possible), one way to toprope it is to do so after leading the Designator. Before you throw your rope down, make sure there is nobody leading it!
The bottom is generally heavily cauliflowered and can be tricky. Up higher it's generally straight forward vertical to overhanging ice. A cakewalk for mixed masters, bloody desperate for the rest of us! Rap/lower off using 2 ropes.
Spankin Hard on 2-1, Half cauliflower and the other half insecure hollow column about 3 feet in diameter. The top requires a pull around a small roof that will suck the last bit of circulation from your pumped out arms. Definitely, a full value lead by anyone's criteria.
The Fang is in the wildest condition I have ever seen it. It is likely 4+ or 5+ but very technical. Ice florets all the way up to "summit curtain". Yep, there is a curtain of ice hanging down instead of the standard steep pillar. There are several ways to climb it including "chimneying" up and right and pulling a small overhang or going left and pulling a larger more pumpy 5+ curtain.
Rigid Designator Amphitheatre
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Quang-Tuan Luong
