2020-2021 Colorado Ice Conditions

Conditions are fine at the moment...

Well that was a tease!  

Loft Ice 10/03/20. Looked wet

Bump.

Who's been up to RMNP as of late? hows it looking up high?

JCS

I climbed Alexander's on the 3rd. Good ice above the first pitch. I know folks were up there yesterday with similar conditions. This last snow event was not huge but may produce more ice in spots--though it is looking to stay pretty cold this week.

Any eyes on Officer's Gulch? Looking to get in there before avy risk is too high.

Ice forming at Vail as the days warm up don’t wander around under hanging ice..,

Anyone had eyes on Lincoln? It is my usual Black Friday getaway but it’s been so hot I’m not very hopeful

Led Spiral Stairs yesterday a bit rotted from the heat if you’re not leading this one maybe stay off it for now a bit nascent for the top rope obliteration squad at present 

Lincoln...  the fat stuff is fat, let the thin stuff grow!

Anyone been out in the San Juans? Particularly Eureka, Camp Bird Road or Kennedy's Gully area?

Johnathan, go to San Juan Guides web site for an update on conditions in the San Juan's. They got the beta.

Vail-Fang cirque today 11/29 amazingly nobody climbing on a Sunday...

Lincoln Falls 11/28/20

Michael Catlettwrote:

Johnathan, go to San Juan Guides web site for an update on conditions in the San Juan's. They got the beta.

Unfortunately no updates since March 2016 :(

Darawrote:

Any eyes on Officer's Gulch? Looking to get in there before avy risk is too high.

This- Anyone?

Went to Officer's Gulch yesterday to climb three tiers.  Fairly unfamiliar with the area, but definitely noticed the Shroud was in and looking sporty.  Unnamed gully/ice hose looked to be holding some decent ice higher up.

Jonathan C, most of the common shadier aspect routes in Eureka are climbing well and still growing. Most Ouray area routes still need some more time until their thicker, but lots of things are forming up. It's been quite cold here and there is snow for a freeze-thaw cycle, but a lack of groundwater from a dry summer and fall have left the area behind schedule overall.

You can find good descriptions of ice conditions from Clint Cook at Mobius Mountaineering: https://www.mobiusmountaineering.com/ice-conditions and I've also been posting conditions on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/splitteralpineadventures/ as well.

Three Tiers 12/1  1st and 2nd.   Last pitch is WI 1.5

Vail is a bit behind for this time o year. Fridgid/Cupcake finish is bone dry, atypical. 7th is lean. Staircase is ‘steep’ and narrow. Secret climbing well. Belfry has nice pillars that are not down yet. Tourettes looks to be a stout lead. Desi getting close to connecting. Pix by Alec V.

The WI3 ice has come in at Moffat.  

As of last weekend, the WI4 pillars have not come in yet.  These need to be farmed.  If you use Moffat, I would ask that you take a few minutes to check on the ice farming infrastructure and help remove any blockages from the pipes and hoses.  If you see that any pipes or hoses need to be replaced, but don’t have the ability to do it yourself, feel free to mention it in this thread.  

If the community pitches in and helps out, then we might be able to get up to 4 steep ice pillars and some great mixed routes at Moffat.  Every fixed rope is a potential ice pillar, but they require community support.  Otherwise, Moffat will be limited to short, often overcrowded WI3.