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Licorice Stick Ice/Mixed
M2-3,
TR, Mixed, 40 ft (12 m),
Avg: 2.3 from 3
votes
FA: unknown
Colorado
> CO Ice & Mixed
> Castlewood Cany…
> Cherry Creek Falls Area
Description
Short free-standing 6-7 inch diameter pillar followed by ice filled corner. The crux is not kicking down the pillar getting into the corner. Short, fun, easy access-the downside is that it only forms up rarely (once a decade?)-it needs a snowfall followed by cold weather. As a pure rock route, it's rated in the 5.7+ to 5.9- range.
Location
Licorice Stick is a black south-facing corner toward the south end of the Grocery Store section of the west rim of Castlewood Canyon, about 80 feet north of where the approach trail hits the cliff at the large flat boulder (by Peaches & Scream). Descend via 3rd/4th class routes south (closest) or north.
Protection
TR anchors at top or corner. As a rock route, the corner crack takes cams nicely-in mixed conditions there's not much pro.
[Hide Photo] Lower section from the front during the best conditions (DRY).
[Hide Photo] The climb from the side, seconds after Mike Carrington completes the route.
[Hide Photo] Mike Carrington finishing the first section of ice, recovering from a broken leg the right way.
[Hide Photo] The crux 2/22/07 prime conditions.
Littleton, Co
P.S.: I chipped away the ice from 2 of the 3 anchors, but it was about 4 inches thick and hard. It's still a bomber anchor, but 3 would be better. Good luck. Feb 13, 2007
Littleton, Co
One year in particular, every section of rock that exhibited vertical black streaks from water seepage had ice formed on it.
I am guessing that there were no less than a hundred ice pillars thoughout the canyon.
Licorice Stick forms more often than most. Mar 7, 2007
Littleton, Co