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Ice Palace

WI5-6, Ice, 115 ft (35 m),  Avg: 4 from 3 votes
FA: unknown
Colorado > CO Ice & Mixed > Rifle Mtn Park > W Side of the Canyon
Warning Access Issue: Stone Free & Ice Palace are off limits to climbing! DetailsDrop down

Description

I don't like describing routes I haven't led, but Ice Palace's exit was so melted out it was unleadable today (at least my me). This climb rarely comes in, so we set up a top rope (couldn't help ourselves). Thanks Randy Harris for your awesome BW5 (bushwhack) above Stone Free. She is a beautiful 115 foot pillar that gets 3-4 hours of sun a day making her exit even more dangerous than the usual dangerous Rifle exits. She had a cone that was so melted out today we would not even top rope through it (at least our crew). I'm truly hoping it comes in this season, I would really like to get a lead on her, as I'm sure a lot of other climbers would.

Location

0.5 miles into park on left side. Right next door to Stone Free. 5 minute hike from car. Rappel the route.

Protection

Screws, V-threads. Cords with rings around a dead stump for rappel.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Nice WI4/5 conditions until the top. Melting out. From the top, looking into the center, it looked like a big straw.
[Hide Photo] Nice WI4/5 conditions until the top. Melting out. From the top, looking into the center, it looked like a big straw.
Ice Palace from the base of Stone Free on 1/23/2010.
[Hide Photo] Ice Palace from the base of Stone Free on 1/23/2010.
Artemis Vendemmia, MD, on the N. side of Ice Palace. 1/23/2010.
[Hide Photo] Artemis Vendemmia, MD, on the N. side of Ice Palace. 1/23/2010.
Randy Harris on The Ice Palace. 1/23/2010.
[Hide Photo] Randy Harris on The Ice Palace. 1/23/2010.
Randy Harris rappeling down Ice Palace with Steve Berwanger leading Stone Free. 1/23/2010.
[Hide Photo] Randy Harris rappeling down Ice Palace with Steve Berwanger leading Stone Free. 1/23/2010.
Ice Palace.
[Hide Photo] Ice Palace.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Michael Schneiter
Glenwood Springs, CO
[Hide Comment] Stone Free and Ice Palace are on state-owned Division of Wildlife land that is part of the trout hatchery and hence are off limits to all climbing, including mixed and ice climbing. These climbs are not part of city-owned land that makes up Rifle Mountain Park. In the last few years, the Division of Wildlife has put up more and more signs that state "No Climbing", and DOW employees will chase off climbers who climb there. It should be encouraged to honor this closure as the Rifle Climbers Coalition has made repeated attempts to open up access to this area and repeated violations of the climbing closure probably make these efforts even more difficult.

Climbing closure sign at beginning of canyon.


One of the "no climbing" signs at the base of the climbs.
Jan 11, 2017