By Brian Scoggins From Eugene, OR Nov 18, 2012
| To the first party on the Bowling Alley at Lincoln on Saturday 11/17/12: If you're on here, PM me, I forgot to get your contact info. I was the other dude with Aztars, as you were leading the first pitch. |  FLAG |
By cdec From SLC and Moab, ut Nov 18, 2012
| doligo wrote: who need to tick off climbs before the approaches get chocked up with snow. Yeah what kind of a knob would want to get some ice climbing done without the post holing, avi danger and spindrift. |  FLAG |
By doligo Nov 18, 2012
| cdec wrote: Yeah what kind of a knob would want to get some ice climbing done without the post holing, avi danger and spindrift. Yep, other than the avi danger, post holing and spindrift are the part of the game, IMHO. On the other hand you get this kind of early season shenanigans thanks to the interwebs (lifted from the "screamers" thread):
Sally G. wrote: My friend was belaying a guy at Lincoln last week who took a lead fall, first screw came out, screamer deployed and he didn't hit the deck. He's bruised, but walking, so 20 bucks is cheap! |  FLAG |
By phil wortmann From Colorado Springs, Co. Nov 18, 2012
| Please stop hijacking this thread for ethics issues. Start your own thread about it. Ice conditions only! If you don't like this thread, dont use it. |  FLAG |
By coop From Glenwood Springs, CO Nov 18, 2012
| agreed
phil wortmann wrote: Please stop hijacking this thread for ethics issues. Start your own thread about it. Ice conditions only! If you don't like this thread, dont use it. |  FLAG |
By Kevin Connolly From CO Nov 18, 2012
| ethics? i was talking about ice conditions. forecast says sunny with highs near 50 for the week. hope that helps. in case anyone was wondering campground couloir is IN!!!! and beat tho shit!!! there was only 4 cars parked at the base today, so get the word out, the parking can handle 3-4 times that. |  FLAG |
By Jamie Jones Nov 19, 2012
| Ethics? There are no ethics any more, it's a selfish world out there, esp. with the crew from the Boulder area. |  FLAG |
By willeslinger From Golden, Colorado Nov 19, 2012
| Jamie Jones wrote: Ethics? There are no ethics any more, it's a selfish world out there, esp. with the crew from the Boulder area. Sad story, I'm sure in some instances it's true. But this is my first ice season living in CO, And I've found folks to be very courteous and polite so far, A little bit of common sense goes a long way. For instance, if someone is about to lead a pitch, don't hike to the top and drop a TR on them, what if, and this might be a novel concept, you went up to them, said hello, offered them something from your thermos (or flask), and just acted friendly, my guess is that those folks would appreciate your politeness and be more than happy to trail your rope up for a TR after. The golden rule (not the Justin Timberlake/Andy Samberg one) has been around a long time for a reason. Maybe this is just my aw shucks southern ism coming out, but we're all climbers, and we've got more in common than not, it's just November, we've got another four months of ice, easy to climb, why not make friends and enjoy it together? |  FLAG |
By Brian Scoggins From Eugene, OR Nov 19, 2012
| The concern is not the crowds. Its that if the formations aren't replenished, they'll all be beat to hell, knocked down, picked out, and impossible to lead safely if we don't just calm down. I agree, later in the season, conditions reports are nice for the fat flows, but if my reports are going to drive so many people to the climb before its really in shape for that kind of crowding, maybe I shouldn't post them up. Front Range ice is a very limited resource, so we should be careful not to love certain formations to death, since they might not form up twice in one season. |  FLAG |
By Evan S From Erie, CO Nov 19, 2012
| Brian Scoggins wrote: The concern is not the crowds. Its that if the formations aren't replenished, they'll all be beat to hell, knocked down, picked out, and impossible to lead safely if we don't just calm down. I agree, later in the season, conditions reports are nice for the fat flows, but if my reports are going to drive so many people to the climb before its really in shape for that kind of crowding, maybe I shouldn't post them up. Front Range ice is a very limited resource, so we should be careful not to love certain formations to death, since they might not form up twice in one season. You can verbally fight it all you want, but early season ice on the front range is doomed in the next decade. Everyone wants to ice climb for some bizarre reason, and you can't stop them from doing it, when they want, and where they want. Start getting used to mixed conditions is my recommendation. |  FLAG |
By Jeremy Monahan From Fort Fun, CO Nov 19, 2012
| Kevin, I have a suggestion on a new sport which seems to be right up your alley. It may not have the appeal or danger of ice climbing, but the level of sarcasm is unmatched...
Also, I was in Tyndall Gorge in RMNP this past Friday (11/16). The Squid is not in, the bottom 1/2 of the S. Flattop Gully is in. Bullet had some nice looking ice, and there were several other small flows up the hill from Emerald lake. Tyndall Glacier is windslabbed, and probably not safe anymore. There was evidence of windslabs above Emerald Lake such as hollow slabs, small fractures and definite layering of snow on weaker facets. EDIT: The route I described is not Flattop gully. It is the rightmost red dotted line in the photo below. This is the S face of Flattop. Here is the current condition photo taken 11/16:
|  FLAG |
By Highlander From Ouray, CO Nov 19, 2012
| Sounds like the Front Range is where it's at right now. Nothing to see out here, pretty dry and warm. Save you gas $ and stay on the Front Range......Besides it's perfect rock climbing conditions right now! |  FLAG |
By eric kramak Nov 19, 2012
| On a different and entirely unrelated note Total Abandon is in what appears to be pretty fat shape right now. Like WI4-, M-not really necessary fat. It has definitely seen a lot of traffic but is far from picked out. Takes short to medium screws, and maybe a few nuts or small/medium cams at anchors and on the the 3rd pitch. Following the chimney with a pack was less than awesome - make sure you lead the 2nd pitch! |  FLAG |
By Simon Thompson From New Paltz, NY Nov 19, 2012
| Sweet. Anyone have more good pics from the weekend? |  FLAG |
By JDCH Nov 19, 2012
| Hey guys, Headed out your way from Seattle for some turkey with the fam, and was hoping to swing some tools while I was there. Taking my little brother out for his first Ice climb, so I was hoping to find something in the WI3 range within a 2.5 hour drive from Denver. I heard rumors that the Mt Lincoln ice is in. Is that true? Is there anywhere else that fits the bill that is nearby denver, WI3ish, and within a 2.5 hour drive? I really appreciate the help in advance! James |  FLAG |
By Brian Scoggins From Eugene, OR Nov 19, 2012
| JDCH wrote: Hey guys, Headed out your way from Seattle for some turkey with the fam, and was hoping to swing some tools while I was there. Taking my little brother out for his first Ice climb, so I was hoping to find something in the WI3 range within a 2.5 hour drive from Denver. I heard rumors that the Mt Lincoln ice is in. Is that true? Is there anywhere else that fits the bill that is nearby denver, WI3ish, and within a 2.5 hour drive? I really appreciate the help in advance! James It was in fat on Saturday. It is crawling with people though, since its one of the few things close to Denver that's in right now. Get up early, go on a weekday (in this case, tuesday or wednesday) or both. |  FLAG |
By Erik W From Bay Area, CA Nov 19, 2012
| AMU on Sunday, 11/18/12.
| AMU, 11/18/12. Submitted By: Erik W on Nov 19, 2012
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| AMU, 11/18/12. Submitted By: Erik W on Nov 19, 2012
| |  FLAG |
By dmurph From Ouray, CO Nov 20, 2012
| I heard everything melted the past couple of days down here on the western slope...so all of you not from here should probably stay away for a while.
- *Also, to the guy with a white Chevy Avalanche or whatever stupid truck you have that was parked last week in Eureka: When you plan to leave your vehicle to set out for a climb, how about not parking it in the middle of the road? Just because you're scared to drive through some snow, doesn't mean other people aren't. Thanks;)
|  FLAG |
By phil wortmann From Colorado Springs, Co. Nov 21, 2012
| We found the perfect solution to hacked ice, long lines, rude climbers, and "out" conditions. Steve House's "Desperado" on the Ribbon Buttress on Camp Bird road is sure to please!
| Erik Wellborn on p1 of Desperado. Submitted By: phil wortmann on Nov 20, 2012
| At AI4 M6 R/X, you're guaranteed not to race anyone to a route like this. Bring lots of iron, screamers, and a bigger pair than me. We decided to bail once the R/X became solid X. If anyone wants to try the death choss, give Noah a shout. He lives for that stuff! |  FLAG |
By danny m From Gilbert, az Nov 21, 2012
| Hey Phil or dmurph How is the ice in the Ouray/Silverton area right now. Thinking about taking a trip up there for the long weekend but noticed lots of high 40's low 50's temps during the day |  FLAG |
By Dougald MacDonald Nov 21, 2012
| Notchtop's East Face (aka North Face) on 11/20: No ice at all through the first rock band: fairly sketchy climbing. All other ice pitches are in. Deep but pretty stable snow on the upper pitches. Lots of spindrift. Below the face: Grace Falls has a cool looking steep ribbon. Hot Doggies and other rad climbs in the area are getting close, but you likely wouldn't call them "in." |  FLAG |
By phil wortmann From Colorado Springs, Co. Nov 21, 2012
| No real ice on Camp Bird. Stairway is lean, we climbed the gully to the West of it though and found a solid pitch of ice. Campground is in well, and DNF looked very thin down low. |  FLAG |
By Roger from Ouray Nov 21, 2012
| phil wortmann wrote: No real ice on Camp Bird. Stairway is lean, we climbed the gully to the West of it though and found a solid pitch of ice. Campground is in well, and DNF looked very thin down low. On the other hand, climbing on the Pool Wall these days is awesome. |  FLAG |
By danny m From Gilbert, az Nov 21, 2012
| Thanks for the info guys. Anyone been out to Eureka? |  FLAG |
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