CO Front Range: Ice Condition Reports ('08/'09)

A little dated, but climber73 from: Fort Collins, CO reported on Dec. 15, 2008 - Upper and Lower are out as of yesterday. -Zero- ice. Not a good sign.

Firehouse falls in Vail is in.

I just returned from Silver Plume Falls. Water is gushing like crazy beneath the ice. The middle to left-ish section is completely hollow. I poked through and had about another 4 feet to the rock with water raging below it. Its pouring beneath on the right as well, so much so that you can see it from the bottom where you belay.

We tried to set a directional on the far left to TR from the middle boulder (the sketchy one) anchor, but my partner busted through the ice at the top into 8 inch deep running water so we decided against it. The ice is pretty manky IMHO, but climbable. FWIW.

There's no ice in vail, but plenty of beer. oh yeah, the nordic track is in, buffy.

anyone else notice those green book's approach times are 3x light speed? nah, it's just me; btw, the cyn pin takes 10 minutes to the base.

Mark Nelson wrote:There's no ice in vail, but plenty of beer. oh yeah, the nordic track is in, buffy. anyone else notice those green book's approach times are 3x light speed? nah, it's just me; btw, the cyn pin takes 10 minutes to the base.

How is that? we were just there less than a week ago and spent all day climbing ice at the forehouse falls area.

dude -- kidding
btw - pumphouse looks like crap

seth0687 wrote:Vail Update 12/24/08 Fang: totally out, very very thin and no where close to touching Desi: completely touching, but cauliflower for at least the first 3/4 of the climb and not very solidified at that (ask john). Spiral Staircase: completely in Pencil: completely in (slightly picked out) 7th tenticle: coming in nicely Cupcake corner: in of course with some nice ice up top :) unsure of others, but things are definitely coming along good. SIKED!!! woot wooot

Hey cracka,
was up there yesterday. when we made it out of the car it was -6. new expectation for you. since you live so close I'm going to need you to go up and pack the foot trail down for myself, Mike, clayton, Sal. you are the youngest of the bunch and well.. the newb. also if you could take a plastic sled up to the spiral staircase and where everyone glissades off. that could use some packing down as well. climbed the desi and some really unsettling cracking going on while climbing it.

kevin fox wrote: Hey cracka, was up there yesterday. when we made it out of the car it was -6. new expectation for you. since you live so close I'm going to need you to go up and pack the foot trail down for myself, Mike, clayton, Sal. you are the youngest of the bunch and well.. the newb. also if you could take a plastic sled up to the spiral staircase and where everyone glissades off. that could use some packing down as well. climbed the desi and some really unsettling cracking going on while climbing it.

hahahha. Thats funny. I cant wait :) Get er done Seth!!! :)
I also expect the ass slide from spiral to the ski track to be plush. I only topped out at like 10 mph last ride and need more speed. Try to use your fat ass and your fat head this time to really level it out homie :)

Kev.

I fly back tonight from NorCal. I think I would like to jump up to vail this week. Let me know if you got a free day to head up.

Anyone know what the condtion of All mixed up is in the park?

Pumphouse has ice climbing? where??

Good idear Kev --- & leave some beer when you get done, seth; and some pizza.

nah SAL, the pumphouse is crap right now.

Mark Nelson wrote:Good idear Kev --- & leave some beer when you get done, seth; and some pizza. nah SAL, the pumphouse is crap right now.

Hint of sarcasm :)

I prefer a bit more rock then ice to really tickle my pickle.

I will for you Mark. Leave a 3pack of beer in the amphitheatre this week if I head up :) better get there first :)

Any beta on current conditions on Martha on Mount Lady Washington?

Kai Larson wrote:Any beta on current conditions on Martha on Mount Lady Washington?

I would not count on that climb until spring. Usually is not in this time of year. maybe start looking around march09

kevin fox wrote: Hey cracka, was up there yesterday. when we made it out of the car it was -6. new expectation for you. since you live so close I'm going to need you to go up and pack the foot trail down for myself, Mike, clayton, Sal. you are the youngest of the bunch and well.. the newb. also if you could take a plastic sled up to the spiral staircase and where everyone glissades off. that could use some packing down as well. climbed the desi and some really unsettling cracking going on while climbing it.

The trail was packed down thanks to John lol and the slide, well its pretty pristine right now....I got at least 13-15mph on the way down, even caught some air it was epic.

John Langston wrote:So how is it that I do all the work breaking trail and I still have to stop and wait for you. BTW, not only did I dull that pick, I also bent it. The new ones are going to get hardened this week.

your super human....

Went Up to Jaws Falls today, temps were perfect and the skies were clear (mostly) Things were in petty good shape, with the exception of some rotten ice on the tops of bulges and such, and the occasional wet stick.

Actually Martha is one of the rare alpine ice routes to often be in great condition during the Dec-Feb. time frame and I've climbed it dozens of times during these months.

Warmer sunny weather with snow above the route are the perfect conditions to see this one form as it's south-facing and snowmelt feeds the ice in this narrow cleft. Avalanche conditions are usually only a problem on the approach to Chasm Meadows, if at all.

Most of the photos under the route description on my site are from Dec-January ascents: climbinglife.com/ice-and-mi…

You never know what to find unless you take the tools for a walk!
Happy New Year!
Eli

I was coming back from a backcountry skiing trip yesterday and I was taking a gander at the idaho springs fall.

Is the idaho springs fall open to climbing???

I saw two people at the base of the climb with a top rope set up on the fall. I have lived in colorado my whole life and I have asked my parents and everyone else if you can climb it, and the response is always "NO". I figured if I even tried those police officers would slap a huge fine on me or take away my gear.

$1000 plus you lose your tools & equipment

someone actually had enough time to setup a TR? they musta had permissions. It's a crappy climb anyway.

I know someone who tried to climb it in the 80's, a sheriff pulled up while they were mid-climb and screamed at them on a loudspeaker until they finished and got off. They weren't fined at that time, but the warning was clear. STAY AWAY!

Jaws is wet, hot, and scary!

some ice was falling off with the high temps today.