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The 2010 Colorado Ice Conditions Thread

clemay · · Fort Collins · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 0
jack roberts wrote:If I only lived closer to the Canadian border!
+1.
Evan S · · Denver, Co · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 510
clemay wrote: +1.
The rarer and more elusive the prey, the sweeter the feast my friend. I'm happy right here.
jack roberts · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 0

If that is the case then I wish I lived closer to Norway.....
BIG dragons to slay up there!

Chris Plesko · · Westminster, CO · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 485

In case it wasn't obvious in Kevin's post...we recommend at least bringing flotation in the Park right now, esp off the main snowshoe crowd routes. We postholed for hours and didn't even get close to the base. On the plus side there is trench now heading towards Notchtop. More pictures when I can go download them.

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425
jack roberts wrote:Scott, You sleep in until 3am? I'm usually half way to Chasm Lake by then. HA!
I might have to sleep in the lot just to beat you there!!
Evan S · · Denver, Co · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 510
jack roberts wrote:If that is the case then I wish I lived closer to Norway..... BIG dragons to slay up there!
If you got about 15 Americans together and shared rent on a one room cottage, you might be able to afford living there!!!
James Beissel · · Boulder, CO · Joined Aug 2004 · Points: 905
Spencer Dries · · Golden, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 95

Went to RMNP this weekend, Crypt is not in, Jewel lake, AMU,Reflections, WestGully, Stoneman all in
I have some pics ill post later

AMU.

Jewel

Black Lake.

Chris Plesko · · Westminster, CO · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 485

Let the mad dash for cash begin...

Jim Amidon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2001 · Points: 850

Looks

THIN >>>>>>>

Kevin Landolt · · Fort Collins, Wyoming · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 585

Climbed a fun little route in RMNP today - good stuff.



Ryan Malarky · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 110
Wickes · · Reno, NV · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 0

Hiked up to All Mixed Up yesterday afternoon, so there is a trail broken, though it may not be optimal as it was my first time heading up there. It is very lean, most of the first pitch was not bonded and had water running underneath what ice was present. The final pitch looked good though.

PS--my crampons somehow detached from my pack on the way down, so if anyone finds a pair of BD Sabertooth crampons, with anti-bots, contact me for a reward.

seth0687 · · Fort Collins · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 375

Thinking of heading up to the park tomorrow to check on the ice any more recent ideas of how things are doing up there and whether or not flotation will be needed?

Cheers,

Seth

Koy · · Denver, CO · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 85
seth0687 wrote:Thinking of heading up to the park tomorrow to check on the ice any more recent ideas of how things are doing up there and whether or not flotation will be needed? Cheers, Seth
No floatation needed. We were up in Glacier Gorge today and the trail was well packed. We did get on the West Gully. It was a little thin in spots, but climbable yet. Crazy warm in the Park today for this time of year. If we get another really warm day (like today), I'm not sure what will be in climable shape then. My partner and I were talking on the way out that it felt like late May/early June up there.
cride · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 70

Oh guys, leave some ice for those that like to climb in late-Jan and early-Feb. I was out at RMNP today. Looked really good!

Koy · · Denver, CO · Joined Dec 2008 · Points: 85
cride wrote:Oh guys, leave some ice for those that like to climb in late-Jan and early-Feb. I was out at RMNP today. Looked really good!
Seriously, dude? Climbing the West Gully in lean conditions is not going to impact the formation of that climb one bit. It'll be 2 feet thick by the time you decide get out "in late January".
Matt Shepard · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Jul 2006 · Points: 386

My partner and I climbed at Lincoln on Friday and RMNP on Saturday.

Lincoln is in decent shape the steep curtain to the right is just starting to form and is not touching down but has a good start compared to the shape I saw it in a week ago. The bowling alley is shaping up and the upper headwall has enough ice for multiple lines for a good day of getting in shape.

We did the Northeast Face route on Notchtop in the Park on Saturday and it was warm as most would have expected but the climbing was good. The first pitch is not complete but may be able to be scratched up. My party went up a slab to the right that was very engaging since alot of the ice was a thin shell unbonded to the rock. The climbing was easy though. The party ahead of us turned the first pitch on the left on snow slopes. I would say there were only two more pitches and they were both in good shape.

seth0687 · · Fort Collins · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 375

Got up almost all the way to Black Lake today in the park. There is no need for flotation as of today because all that is on the trail is enough ice to make you slip...all the way there (note: I did not take the winter short cut so trail conditions are based off of the standard trail).

Here is AMU:

All Mixed Up, 11/8/2010.

As we were coming up to the Black Lake area (perhaps less than .5mi from the lake) I noticed a flow off to the right up the hill a little ways from the trail. We decided to go check it out and this is what we found. I am not sure if this the jewel lake ice?? We were past Jewel lake by a little bit for sure. If anyone can clear this up please let me know. Either way, it was extremely thin after the first 25 ft. so if anyone goes hunting be careful.
Unkown ice flow
Me on the unknown flow.

Regards,

Seth

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425

Hey Seth...it "looks" like Jewel, but it would be on the right going towards black lake and it's got to be way lower than .5 from black lake. At least it feels that way.

Maybe it's a rare former.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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