Middle Ice Cave (formerly Tree Slab)

The Middle Ice Cave (formerly Tree Slab) is as convenient as you can get for ice climbing. Just a stone's throw from the parking lot, the Middle Ice Cave approach is measured in seconds. Yet, it rarely gets climbed even though it consistently comes in. The Middle Ice Cave is prone to sun damage, because it gets a good amount of sun in the morning, but it also finds enough shade for the bulk of the day to consistently come in. 

As is common in Rifle, some of the topouts can be tricky, and it's typically steeper than it looks. At times you can find a path up the ice that is in the WI3/3+ range, but most often routes are in the WI4-5 range. The middle of the flow tends to form up with the easiest with harder variations on the left and right sides.

UPDATE: the tree that leaned up against the ice climb and provided its name fell over sometime in 2020. 

Be aware that this area is popular with hikers visiting the ice caves in the winter, particularly on the weekends, and often don't understand the dangers of falling ice!

There are a number of anchor options on the Middle Ice Cave as it is a wide flow. There are a number of anchoring options, described left to right:

1. A bolted anchor on the far left.

2. A large bush on the edge that formerly tat around it.

3. A large bush with chain set back from the edge that can be backed up with a small pine tree.

4. A dead tree stump that formerly had tat.

5. A bolted anchor on the far right although this line has a harder time touching down.

In addition, there are a number of options for anchors if you want to go farther uphill from the edge.

Located next to Feline, the classic 5.11 sport route that has a huge chalk streak. The parking lot for Feline is plowed every winter and serves as a popular spot for winter hikers in the canyon. The parking lot is about 1/2 mile past the first bridge crossing in Rifle. Tree Slab is about 1/4 down canyon from the popular Final Curtain, which can be accessed from the same parking lot although it seldom is. The parking lot is immediately across from the Tree Slab ice climb, and a nice bridge crosses the creek just 30 feet downstream from Feline.

The Tree Slab is the middle of 3 ice caves in Rifle Mountain Park although signage as such is limited.

Ice screws and a number of bolted and natural anchors.