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Topping out of St. Louis Canyon ice climb, circa 1980. Climber is John Gorby or Paul Schwarz. Need someone to verify as I've long ago forgotten.
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Check it out. Using a long 85cm. hiking ax as hand tool. The 'state of the art' tool of the day; a 65 cm.'terrordactyl' is the other one. I couldn't afford the ultimate tool, a Lowe Hummingbird. Tied to harness on long runners, before real leashes were 'en vogue for ice tools. Slick wool gloves against no-grip tools with no talons to hang on leashlessly. Cheap SMC hinged crampons complete the costume folks. But we managed.
Don't laugh. Style called for knickers, long scarf, even longer primitive tools. Yes, we were 'gods' back then to even attempt these routes. No thanks needed, just buy us a beer next time you see any oldsters' in a bar telling tall tales.
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Woodchuck ATC
Feb 26, 2010
“Topping out of St. Louis Canyon ice climb, circa 1980. Climber is John Gorby or Paul Schwarz. Need someone to verify as I've long ago forgotten.”  

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Check it out. Using a long 85cm. hiking ax as hand tool. The 'state of the art' tool of the day; a 65 cm.'terrordactyl' is the other one. I couldn't afford the ultimate tool, a Lowe Hummingbird. Tied to harness on long runners, before real leashes were 'en vogue for ice tools. Slick wool gloves against no-grip tools with no talons to hang on leashlessly. Cheap SMC hinged crampons complete the costume folks. But we managed.
Topping out of St. Louis Canyon ice climb, circa 1980. Climber is John Gorby or Paul Schwarz. Need someone to verify as I've long ago forgotten.
Don't laugh. Style called for knickers, long scarf, even longer primitive tools. Yes, we were 'gods' back then to even attempt these routes. No thanks needed, just buy us a beer next time you see any oldsters' in a bar telling tall tales.
One of the 'test' climbs done in St. Louis canyon at Starved Rock, back in Feb.1980 to convince park officials that our sport is a renewable self healing ice event with no ecological damage. Climber is Paul Schwartz or John Gorby but not sure which after all these years.
Go figure: This is same time, early March of '96' and Mongoose is huge, but across the canyon, you can see that the 'Snake' never ever got enough flow to drip much or come close to forming up at all. Can never figure out each winter what to expect.
Great Ottawa canyon ice of 2019. 2020 was a 'no ice' season, but we had a great return to fine conditions again in Feb of 2021
6 more pics of Mongoose in winter of '96. Lauren's first try to climb, age 8. Nothing fit her but she gave it a try anyway.
I know it had to be very wet by that time. But soft ice, thus why I'm using old school tools for the challenge of it.
Topping out on headwall of Aurora canyon. Unfortunately all three, Kickapoo, Sac and Aurora are all closed to climbing now. Pic from 1995. Climber is 13 year old Tiffany Jurek.
The 'proper' approach to do roof move on overhanging ice of Kickapoo canyon. Up tight, long reach. stab a tool and pull the move!
Mongoose' of Tonti canyon again, from side view of that wild freeze up in Feb 2009. Incredible ice year.
Another view of Ice Hose. 3 climbers enjoying this rare one day event back in mid 80's.