2020-2021 Colorado Ice Conditions

There used to be a steel cable that would hang from the top of the fang to help it form. Can any of you vail aficionados tell me why it was taken down?

I don’t climb that hard on ice but I’m still curious. 

Dale Dwrote:

LOL...not likely.  Too many people not willing to do the approach :)

Whoosh

Mark Westfallwrote:

There used to be a steel cable that would hang from the top of the fang to help it form. Can any of you vail aficionados tell me why it was taken down?

I don’t climb that hard on ice but I’m still curious. 

Other than being an eyesore for a beautiful summer waterfall the cable was pulled down by collapsing ice the Fang Dagger recently collapsed shedding tons of ice and scouring the gully below 

Beth Goralski heading up King Cobra en route to Lightning the Amphibian dagger is visible in the background the latter route is climbing very well DO NOT knock the dagger down Amphibian is M8 so plan accordingly...

Rob Cotterwrote:

Other than being an eyesore for a beautiful summer waterfall the cable was pulled down by collapsing ice the Fang Dagger recently collapsed shedding tons of ice and scouring the gully below 

Did the cable help the fang form more reliably?

Mark Westfallwrote:

Did the cable help the fang form more reliably?

I first climbed the Fang (solo) in early 1994, the route has formed intermittently since then most recently in 2018-19, its difficult to say how much it helped given changes in climate and hydrology.

Has anybody had eyes on any ice well-formed in Rocky recently? I know AMU was in earlier and the stuff around Glacier Gorge, but any recent activity? Are any of the shorter routes in such as Jaws or Mixed Feelings? Thanks for your help, I appreciate it. 

LawHouswrote:

Has anybody had eyes on any ice well-formed in Rocky recently? I know AMU was in earlier and the stuff around Glacier Gorge, but any recent activity? Are any of the shorter routes in such as Jaws or Mixed Feelings? Thanks for your help, I appreciate it. 

AMU today (1/12). Jewel is fine, heavily picked out and partially delaminated at the bottom but climbable.  

Any recent observations from Eureka in the San Juan’s? Second gully specifically?

Redstone update 1/13.

Redstone pilar. Thin, not connected, and bone dry

Avocado gully. Not in, might come in later in season if conditions allow

Drool. Not in. Absolutely no Ice whatsoever. Id say better luck next year with this one.

Redstone slabs. Not in. Maybe later in season, most likely no.

There are other random flows that are in that I have never seen. We ended up climbing a W3 flow up coal creek. I did not check out marble falls but with the cold mornings I bet it is climbing well. Also, the false drool is in but i am not sure about access on that one with private property. If anyone has beta on that approach please share! 

BUMP

"Has anybody had eyes on any ice well-formed in Rocky recently? I know AMU was in earlier and the stuff around Glacier Gorge, but any recent activity? Are any of the shorter routes in such as Jaws or Mixed Feelings? Thanks for your help, I appreciate it. "

Specifically wondering about Jaws actually

LawHouswrote:

BUMP

"Has anybody had eyes on any ice well-formed in Rocky recently? I know AMU was in earlier and the stuff around Glacier Gorge, but any recent activity? Are any of the shorter routes in such as Jaws or Mixed Feelings? Thanks for your help, I appreciate it. "

Specifically wondering about Jaws actually

Fern Lake trail to Jaws is still closed after the fire. 

https://www.nps.gov/romo/learn/fire-information-and-regulations.htm

Mixed Feelings and AMU are not in. Bad year for ice in ROMO below alpine. 

Columbine looked chubby on 01/03/21

JCS

Redstone Pillar is thin and not touching down. It's also really dry. I saw a pic someone posted on Facebook within the last few days

Old and In the Waywrote:

Any recent observations from Eureka in the San Juan’s? Second gully specifically?

Climbed it 1/15/21.  Second Gully is so-so right now.  My partner, who has been on it before, said it was much thinner.

Dale Dwrote:

Taken 1/15/21

Maybe I'm a noob, maybe I'm not supposed to ask - where are these?! I need a target for tomorrow!

Bernardo Fantiwrote:

Maybe I'm a noob, maybe I'm not supposed to ask - where are these?! I need a target for tomorrow!

Eureka 

They will probably both be about 5 parties deep tomorrow