[Hide Comment] Thin this year (12/8/01). The ice is a few moves above the fixed pin, and only 4 inches thick for 15'. It's doable, though. Dec 10, 2001

[Hide Comment] I don't get the comment about this route not being suitable for toproping -- is that just to keep the rifraff off? Jan 16, 2002

[Hide Comment] This route is easily toproped. In fact, I have only seen one lead in the 6-7 time I have been there. Mar 1, 2002

[Hide Comment] I haven't done but a handful of mixed routes so don't take my word for it, but I think this is harder than M5 for the conditions when the ice doesn't start until after the angle decreases to less than vertical. Feb 17, 2003

[Hide Comment] Just as a heads up...As of last month the second pin (# 1 blade) is no longer there! I blew out the placement when I tried to replace it with a # 3...Sorry, but considering that the pin shifted with a slight test tap I would not have wanted to hang on it!!! Definitely a false sense of security at best! Too bad the water isn't flowing like it used to (down to the angle). Dec 29, 2003

[Hide Comment] In response to Ben's post: the climb that is described here and all the pictures are for "Mixed Emotions" which Gillett calls M6 WI4+. "Mixed Feelings" is actually right near the fork in the trail after you get into the gorge. So, yes, it is harder than M5... but it might also be considered accurate for the grade in other areas, being huge holds really close together. Jan 19, 2005

[Hide Comment] I want to know more about this new bolted route on Mixed Feelings. Who is Jack B.? I would like to hear from him about this. It sounds cool. Feb 16, 2005

[Hide Comment] Re. recently reported bolting of "direct start" to Mixed Emotions and question about FA- I have seen Ryan Vachon lead the route several times with no gear to the traverse ledge and very lean gear through the seem/crack left of the ice (or into the left side of the ice in fat years). This line has been scratched up for years, but would guess it is not often lead.... Feb 17, 2005

[Hide Comment] There is no question that this variation to Mixed Feelings should and will be chopped.

It has been led several times using natural pro (pins and nuts) and so therefore making the bolts unnecessary but by placing the bolts with a motorized drill it allows the park service the excuse to come and ban other routes in the area. Feb 23, 2005

[Hide Comment] The 3 bolt start is actually pretty good, nice moves although #3 is in a whonky spot. Chopping these bolts is only going to mutilate the rock and frankly I don't see how, now that they are in, these bolts offer any more visual impact than those placed tediously by hand, they are actually rather hard to pick out. Mind you I am not encouraging power-drill use in the Park or other wild areas where they are prohibited, indeed I heard at the time that the blokes who Bosched this thing could nay do it.

This is a good little crag so leave it be, as is... Oct 25, 2006

[Hide Comment] Spanking and Stellar! Anyone should go lead it and then try to say it's M3, with a straight face. There's a free stubby in the snow under the dick-sicle if you can find it. I could not. Jan 7, 2008

[Hide Comment] This fine traditional mixed route now sports a shiny bolt where there was once a knifeblade.... What's up with this addition? Nov 22, 2014

[Hide Comment] Andy, I think it's for when the curtain is super lean and doesn't form over the lip. Don't worry though, it's super out of the way from the standard route. You'd have to go out of your way to clip it, and the rope drag would be bad.

I found a #2 pecker protects...okay...when the curtain doesn't hang super low.

Alex Lowe was the man! Dec 16, 2014

[Hide Comment] For some reason, I hadn't climbed this thing until recently. The disparity of opinions regarding the grade is interesting on this route. When the ice is in good condition, it is really easy. It is way easier than things like Cupcake Corner and the crux on Hallet Chimney. The thing is that the route is quite intimidating, but once you get over that, it is super juggy, has great gear and is quite fun. Dec 14, 2017

[Hide Comment] I did this route with Jeff Bassett back in the winter of '84-'85. It was a pretty wide curtain at the time, but it hung well out from the wall. I slid the left hand axe well back into the horizontal crack, got a good fist jam, leaned way back, reached out, got a good stick in the outside of the curtain, swung out onto the thing, and headed up. Way strenuous lockoffs until I could get my feet on the ice. It was a ways up to the point where the curtain joined the ice, and there was an obvious horizontal crack in the ice all the way across it. A pretty typical hazard, actually. Anyway, I was way pumped and told Mark Wilford that because of the crack I wasn't sure I'd go up there and do it again. He said, "You don't have to, you've done it!" All the climbers in Estes seemed to think it may have been a pretty early repeat of the line. I don't know, but it sure was a blast, even with the primitive gear of the day. Feb 22, 2019

[Hide Comment] I meant it was a good ways up to the point where the curtain joined the rock. Feb 22, 2019