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The 2012-13 Colorado Ice Conditions Thread

Oliver Deshler · · Denver, co · Joined May 2010 · Points: 0

Some photos of Martha's last Sunday. Not much ice but still fun!

county5.blogspot.com/2013/0…

Andrew McLean · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 370

Has anyone checked out Boulder Canyon ice recently?

TheBirdman Friedman · · Eldorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 65

Anyone been up Dreamweaver recently?

Mike Pharris · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 125
Drew McLean wrote:Has anyone checked out Boulder Canyon ice recently?
nothing even starting to form really.
gunter · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 10

Anyone been up total abandon or blind assumption lately?

Will Butler · · Lyons, CO · Joined Sep 2005 · Points: 56
Paul-B wrote: Will, A: thanks for getting us back on topic. B: Why would you not want to get on the North Face? Windloaded etc, or personal aversion? C: You skied in, did you find that worthwhile with the amount of snow present? I skied in last week on the east side of the park and was very disappointed I lugged in my relatively heavy skis/boots, carried my ice boots, because there was so little snow I could have boot packed as quickly. Love to ski approach if its worthwhile.
Paul, we skinned in all the way from Bear Lake to Odessa Lake. The trail was completely covered the entire way and was quite fun in and of itself. Fun ski down too as it's 90% downhill.

The reason I wouldn't get on the North Face is that the bowl above the first few pitches looks wind loaded and there's a bunch of snow that you'd have to trudge through to get to the upper pitches. Grace Falls looked quite safe though and is definitely the largest portion of ice I saw in the valley.
Rocky_Mtn_High · · Arvada, CO · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 230

Loved this video! (Steve House and partner on mixed climbs in Ouray) vimeo.com/56726472

Eric Kramak · · Denver, Colorado · Joined May 2011 · Points: 45

Swung my tools around the falls area of Castlewood Canyon for a bit this morning. Lots of fatty, plastic ice bouldering to be had. Everything I got on was very solid. The creek is quite low right now and the ice can be easily accessed by scrambling down into the canyon at the falls.

funkyicemonkey · · Colorado · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 0

Redstone area still very dry. Avacado gully not in at all, Drool still hardly there, Falls are limited actually its all just bad.

tom bohanon · · Glenwood Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 185

GW falls and Hidden Falls just getting fatter and fatter by the day. Just did my 4 lap on the former today...via the R hand ramp just R of the main/steep L curtain on GW falls.

Tguns · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 0
isitin.createaforum.com/ind…

I just created this forum so we can post just ice conditions and hazards, not mindless BS about who dropped a rope on who and how burly you are at climbing. I love mountain project but i am sick of this forum!
Lee Smith · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2003 · Points: 1,545

I saw some people climbing on the Georgetown flow right next to I-70. This is a serious no-no and you will get ticketed.

Brian Marsh · · Carbondale, CO · Joined Jun 2012 · Points: 155
tom bohanon wrote:GW falls and Hidden Falls just getting fatter and fatter by the day. Just did my 4 lap on the former today...via the R hand ramp just R of the main/steep L curtain on GW falls.
GW falls
From today climb.
Eldo Love · · Mancos,CO · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 125

anything in clear creek yet??? its close. silly. and great for night ice i guess.

Mike Soucy · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2006 · Points: 111

AMU is in. Not sure about W Gully, but would imagine it's also in. Could still see the ice pitch in the NW Gully of Thatchtop, looking good.

Jeremy Espinoza · · Denver, CO · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 80
Eldo Love wrote:anything in clear creek yet??? its close. silly. and great for night ice i guess.
I drove up CC last week and it isn't even starting.
CPino · · Denver, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 35
Dave Cummings wrote:How are the longer routes in RMNP doing like AMU and West Gully? Anyone been up there?
West Gully is in-- but as of 1/6/13-- leaner than I've ever seen it. Most consolidated ice route (p1/p2) to access the lower angle slabs was to the far right. Left would have been hairy, very thin, wet and chandaliered. Slabs up top are plenty fat.
acouncell · · Estes Park, CO · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 190

Hey Walter, I have your two Wild Country non-locking carabiners from Hidden Falls (RMNP) last week. You were climbing with Justin and Heidi. I can get them back to you if you're in/around Boulder.

I guided All Mixed Up on Wednesday and it's still in great shape. The easiest lines are pretty hacked up but there's plenty of good, blue ice to climb if you deviate from the path of least resistance. We lost a screw; the clients swore they didn't drop anything so I think they just forgot to clean one en route. Obviously I'd be psyched to get it back if anyone finds it (BD express screw, should have a yellow mark on it or say AC somewhere on the head). The edges of the route are beginning to delaminate and sound pretty hollow and the route is getting thinner all the time BUT still good climbing. There's a sizable windslab atop the regular 3rd pitch and, again, above the final pitch. Both were unreactive to our weight as well as a party of 3 on Saturday but with the recent snow/loading that could've changed.

There were 18 people at Jewel Lake/Overflow ice on Saturday before we showed up. It's notoriety as an easy-access TR crag has apparently grown. The far left ice is still a bit wet but overall the place looks much thinner than usual and is, of course, well-pocketed. Damn, it was cold this weekend.

Brian Stefanovic · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 0

Climbed stairway to heaven and second gulley. Stairway was in great shape, a little thin on the first pitch and the top two WI3 pitches were a little wet. The descent is still good although a new storm would put it into some sketchy avalanche terrain.

Lastly, sorry to say, one of my tools came off the pack somewhere on the walk off. If any one finds it (in the spring?) please let me know...it is one of the new generation quarks with black tape around the shaft...thanks...

robrobrobrob · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 10

Went up to Glenwood Falls after work, fairly fat, good trail to base. First pitch is pretty low grade, probably 2+ to the shelf. Ice at base was very water logged, up higher it was brittle. "Unknown" off to climbers right looks good too. Kind of sad to see some higher temps on their way... gonna have to stay off this one in the sun.

Glenwood Falls, 12/14/2013.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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