The 2012-13 Colorado Ice Conditions Thread

Dave, EVERYONE has been down to Mineral Creek. Scroll back and read the posts.

Yep we have all been there and guess what? It sucks. Ice climbing and skiing isn't the same every year. This is the year to climb rocks and ride bikes in december.

Anybody know if Jaws at RMNP is in? Might head up there tomorrow if no one has seen it.

Jaws is in the Moraine park/ Fern Lake area. The same area that's been on fire since Oct. 9. It's been closed for at least the last two weeks up there and as far as I've heard is still closed to public access. By the way... all of moraine basin is a lovely shade of black. It may be awhile before it gets opened back up!

The Road leading up to Bear Lake/Moraine Park is closed due to the fire from the junction just past the gate.

Oh man, I didn't realize that fire was still burning. Wow.

If you don't mind a longer walk - the ice up at Peacock Pool is in great shape right now. And obviously the Longs Peak Trailhead is open.....

Paul

does anybody know weather hully gully is in?

The Ouray Ice Park posted this... they're getting ready to open and might be open as early as the 15th. I think it's unlikely that much else is in up there... but since I live in Washington, I can't really go look.

This is a pic from the bridge looking into the Schoolroom...

Schoolroom.
(This pic is from the icepark..)

The Ice Park posted the following:

The Ouray Ice Park will open our 2012/2013 season on Saturday, December 22, 2012. The current cold blast has been awesome, and we are cranking out some serious ice. We were hoping to get away with an early opening on the 15th, but we are not quite ready for prime time.

There was lots of fantastic ice on MOUNT LINCOLN last Sunday (Dec 9th). Just down the road in Alma, the low for the day was -10F @ 6:45pm.

Does anyone what, if anything, is in in the Redstone/Marble area?

Fat City is in, but fairly chandeliered. Second Gully is in, but bring stubbies. WHH looks in, but it's hard to tell from the road what's going on in the chimney. Stairway is in except the first pitch, which looks questionable. We ran into a party that did it Monday, so it's doable, but no idea about how P1 goes (If you were part of said party, please message me with some beta on P1). Yet Another Iced Up Chimney is in, though it's pretty narrow at the top of the chimney. It got climbed today by another party. The road is still drivable to all climbs, though you will definitely need 4wd.

Just passing this on, I wasn't there.
From a buddy who went to Hidden Falls in RMNP on Sunday the 9th.

"it was a complete zoo. About 20 climbers were there, sketchfest. The ice is really poor, chandeliered and wet and very limited."

Mark Hammond wrote:Just passing this on, I wasn't there. From a buddy who went to Hidden Falls in RMNP on Sunday the 9th. "it was a complete zoo. About 20 climbers were there, sketchfest. The ice is really poor, chandeliered and wet and very limited."

I wouldn't recommend going there on a weekend.

I don't think anything is climbable yet. We finally got snow and cold temps to make some ice.

A.P.Lee wrote:Does anyone what, if anything, is in in the Redstone/Marble area?

Mark Hammond wrote:Just passing this on, I wasn't there. From a buddy who went to Hidden Falls in RMNP on Sunday the 9th. "it was a complete zoo. About 20 climbers were there, sketchfest. The ice is really poor, chandeliered and wet and very limited."

I was there on Sunday, and though 20 climbers is an exaggeration, a dozen or so is not. Most folks got on after an hour or two, but I agree with Scott, it's generally not worth it on weekends. Personally, I'm not sure it's really worth it at all right now, given how kicked out it is, and essentially only a single line, with water running visibly under the surface in the center, and a thin upper pillar that won't take much abuse.

I just called the RMNP Rangers office and was told they are meeting right now to discuss opening Bear Lake Road. Thankfully, it sounds as if it will be reopening shortly, possibly today. I was told there is about 7" of snow up there.

Rocky_Mtn_High wrote: I just called the RMNP Rangers office and was told they are meeting right now to discuss opening Bear Lake Road. Thankfully, it sounds as if it will be reopening shortly, possibly today. I was told there is about 7" of snow up there.

Speaking of rangers and Hidden Falls, what would we have to do to get that death tree removed at the top of the falls? It's worse than ever.

Anybody know if that North Central Couloir on Sneffels is still in (posted back on Oct 30th)? I would assume it is, since things are starting to form up in Ouray.

Assuming they don't get anymore snow I would like to head down and do it early next week. Anyone interested in coming?

The San Juans have gotten about a foot of snow in the last several days. More is forecast for Thurs night/Fri. A consideration, I would think, in looking at Sneffels as an ice climb.