The 2012-13 Colorado Ice Conditions Thread

Awesome! Thanks for the beta. I've never been there before, so this is great; I'll definitely check it out--hope there's still some left on Monday

Has anyone been up to Lincoln ice falls recently? I was wondering it there is any ice left?

Thanks!

Lincoln stays in pretty late, I've climbed it in May. However, this year it is probably buried in snow form all the late season dumps.

Heading up there tomorrow at 6 a.m. in a group of four. Anyone welcome if you want a TR or belay.
Send me a p.m.

Instead of Hidden Falls, I went to Lincoln Falls this past Monday. Awesome day!

Lincoln Falls.

Anyone know what trail conditions and ice is like up to Black Lake?

jmeizis wrote:Anyone know what trail conditions and ice is like up to Black Lake?

Was up there last Sunday. Plan was to link West Gully with Big Mac, but deep snow slogging got the better of us. Trail was well packed and skiable, though I wish that I had had snowshoes for before/after the climb. Ice was good with some mixed at the step.

big mac and hourglass are looking good as well. The slabs were mostly covered.

West Gully, 4/21.

Planning on heading up to Martha next Saturday after the end-of-semester-paper-writing frenzy is over. Anybody been up to Chasm recently?

Anfarwal wrote:Instead of Hidden Falls, I went to Lincoln Falls this past Monday. Awesome day!

Nice to see blue ice this time of year... Definitely pretty buried though.

Beautiful, sunny day in the hills this morning!
Deep wet snow blanketing entire Lincoln amphitheater!!
Serious snow balling even with anti-botts.
A lot of slide activity below the big cliffs to the north of the falls.
With so much deep wet snow on the right side of the falls we opted to rap off the trees rather than trigger a slide.
I left my fairly new ACR with an Omega Pacific aluminum rap ring as BOOTY for the lucky finder!

Lincoln Falls 1.

Lincoln Falls 2.

Steve Duff atop 1st pitch of scottish gully. Observe slide zones above the band of trees!

Alpine Cock Ring.
We met another party of friendly climbers, Mike from COS, and Cliff from Monument.

Cliff placing pro on upper tier.

windupbird wrote: Was up there last Sunday. Plan was to link West Gully with Big Mac, but deep snow slogging got the better of us. Trail was well packed and skiable, though I wish that I had had snowshoes for before/after the climb. Ice was good with some mixed at the step. big mac and hourglass are looking good as well. The slabs were mostly covered.

I did Martha on Friday. There was a lot of fun neve/snice. There is an abnormally high amount of snow up there - I would bring snowshoes for the approach and descent. The first crux, through the chimney, is entirely filled in with snow and you walk ten feet above it. I imagine the route will be getting more and more fun over the coming week. Start early before the snice turns slushy and annoying!

Big Mac looked good? Do you have any pictures?

Also, how did you see Hourglass if you were on the south side of Arrowhead? Did you go up to Solitude Lake? Or are you possibly referring to Deborah on the south side of Arrowhead?

Thanks for the info Colin. Planning to head up Sunday and definitely bringing skis.

Colin Simon wrote: Big Mac looked good? Do you have any pictures? Also, how did you see Hourglass if you were on the south side of Arrowhead? Did you go up to Solitude Lake? Or are you possibly referring to Deborah on the south side of Arrowhead?

Planning to do Big Mac on either the 8th or 9th, hopefully.
McHenry's, 4/21.

Hourglass condition was second-hand info from a guy on the trail. Deborah did not appear to be in at all.

Bouldered the short flows at Vail's Golf Club (19th or 9th hole falls etc.) The winter that wouldn't end...ice climbing in May for the sheer novelty of it...climber's left on the Firehouse still looks decent and someone was up there as well. By June the Fang will be touching down.

It's not over yet...

Total Abandon. May 5, 2013.

Don't mind the huge block of snow in the middle, it just makes things more...interesting.

Lincoln falls Sunday May 5 was good. Still lots of snow on the lower angle stuff and some areas of crap ice, but there was great ice underneath!!!

Does anyone know condition of Dreamweaver for this or next weekend? Thanks!

Or Martha's, Dutchman? Is there enough snow to ski up there?
Thanks!

ScottC wrote:Or Martha's, Dutchman? Is there enough snow to ski up there? Thanks!

Also interested in info on Martha or updates with all this new snow? Anyone, Bueller?

Anyone got info on snow/ice condition on Dreamweaver, Martha, or anything else? Thanks!

Attempted Hallett's Chimney yesterday (May 14). Had to bail on the chockstone pitch. Since it hasn't been refreezing at night in the park for the last 3 nights, everything is melting out big time. Sloggy approaches over snow if there isn't a boot-packed trail and water coursing down everywhere. Loose wet avalanches possible on snow slopes over 30 degrees, especially after it warms up during the day. Be safe out there and hope that it gets colder again quickly!