Elkhorn Ice

Climbing this route is more of adventure than a strict ice route.  The pitches are on the short side but the experience is quite unique and wholesome.

Pitch 1- This is an easy low angle rock notch/gully filled with ice.  It's great for a first time ice leader.   It can be covered in snow if there was a recent snow. There is a solid tree at the top that can serve as a belay anchor.  Unfortunately, there are now several logs that have lodged themselves in the gully.  It's now a mix between ice and log climbing.  Many of the logs have now been removed.  It's best to climb this with your pack as returning to the start is a bit messy.

Pitch 2-This piece of ice is a short hike (330 feet) above the first pitch.  Hug the right rock wall amongst the pines and it will reveal itself on the right.   A short ice ramp leads to a nice iced belay platform for the steeper section.  Take the ice slab up and into the iced filled vertical chimney.  The crux is this short chimney section. 

Pitch 2 tops out into a beautiful little ice filled slot canyon. Take the canyon to its end and cross the frozen pool to the exit.   This pool is typically frozen over.  The exit leads to a circular grove of trees that is surrounded by rock walls except for a gap on the southwestern end. Go through the "gate" and it's a short hike around to the left to the start of the second pitch. 

Northern end of the east face of the Elkhorn Mountian chain.  No trail exists but the hike is right at 3/4 of a mile.   You can park at a pullout on the south side of Hwy 244 that is a 1 mile drive to the west of the Horsetheif Lake dam.

First pitch 43.8916776, -103.5054954

Ice screws and runners for natural anchors.