Where can one park in Vail to climb Vail ice such as the Rigid Designator Amphitheatre area or the Pumphouse? Any recommendations on the trail/path and conditions to get up to the ice?

Thanks

Joell, don't park in the residential area. there is the chance that you could get towed and there are access issues. I park at the bathrooms at the pumphouse. there is a sign that they set up at the trail head that says hikers and snowshoers need to pay. don't sweat the sign and stay on the trail that they have set up for climbers.

As of two weeks ago, the descent from the spiral staircase area (i.e. bobsled run) lead to the bottom. Before the 'track', there was one green sign off to the left that just said "Climbers" (I think). But, it had no arrow, no map, etc. (they really need to add these features to the signs). There was only one set of tracks going that direction, and many others going straight down.

There was no footpath near the track. So, my partner and I returned to the ambiguous sign and followed the single tracks to eventually find another sign, and so-on. And, we went up and down and up and down. It was a 'dumb trail', if you ever saw one. Nonetheless, due to the current sensitive topic of trails and parking at Vail -- please follow the 'dumb trail'. It looks like most folks are not.

Kevin, thanks for the beta. That was perfect. Having the clue about the sign was great and it made sense once we saw it. Great day on the Vail Ice. Thanks.

no problem. did you guys get a chance to get on the fang?