Any interest in an Alaskan Ice Festival in Valdez

Current conditions are cold, calm and the road is getting cleared as we read. I have been hiking in the back country and see there is still a lot of ice to be climbed but that all involves at least a 2 hour approach. Still its out there for anyone determined to have a good time. The forecast is for cold weather for the next week so lets keep our fingers crossed. I'll send pics of the canyon the moment they open the road. We are still having a scaled back version of The Valdez Ice Festival and that is the latest and greatest here in Valdez.

The ice is back and forming fast here in Keystone Canyon thanks to this wonderful cold weather we are having. If things stay this way we will still be in for a great Ice Climbing Festival. There is a plan to string a fixed line across the Lowe River and use a raft to approach the falls if the river remains open. There are also many waterfalls reforming around the valley. Lots to keep locals and guests happy on the feathers that have made Valdez a ice mecca :) Looking forward to seeing some people out there this presidents day weekend.
Current Conditions Pics at. Thay were last weekend. Road opens this later this week!!!

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Excited to see ice reforming! Can't wait to meet you Nick. Any update on the road opening?

Valdez climbers are inviting visitors to join in the fun and festivities this presidents day weekend. The ice is fat, the river is frozen and we are psyched to get out and have an amazing time. Nick Weicht will still be hosting a bonfire, potluck, games, giving away prizes and helping set some ropes if need be so that everyone may get the opportunity to play. I have a couple extra sets of tools, crampons, and harnesses that will be available to keep the fun going.

It is true that many of the official organizers and sponsors of the Valdez Ice Climbing Festival pulled out due to the strange weather last month. We all know the weather in Alaska can be unpredictable. Two weeks ago I would not have been writing this same letter. The highway was closed, all the ice had fallen down and our Keystone Canyon was on the verge of devastation due to a two mile lake healed back by a damalanche!! Yet nature has a way of healing itself. The conditions have all changed back to normal Alaskan winter here in Valdez due to two straight weeks of unusually cold weather. The river found its bed and has ice forming shore to shore. Waterfalls have frozen form top to bottom, many thicker than I ever recall seeing. The snowplows worked around the clock to open the road and it looks like this roller coaster is back on coarse.

It may be too late in the game to bring back a full blown organized festival but me and other locals will do our best to make this the best weekend of the year. I'll keep post of current ice, river, weather and festive conditions. That way climbers from around the state can make an informed decision on how to spend there holiday weekend. We hope some of you will join us on the ice here in Valdez this Presidents day.

Climb On

Nick Weicht

contact info and current conditions

907-351-6878

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More great news for ice climbers!! The river is frozen over a foot thick from shore to shore at Bridalveil and next week is calling for more cold weather. Follow the crampon scratched highway to the fully foamed classic ice test peaces. Also all the parking lots in the canyon have been plowed and there is a lot of lower angle ice is in thicker than normal. Condition are solid yet the pro may call for a more confident climber than the normal superman ice we are accustomed to. We did a bunch of laps on the lower sections of Bridalveil today and everyone had a great time. Bridalveil has room for five top ropes on the bottom pitch presidents day weekend. Greensteeps, simple twist and glass onion may stay open for teams that want to tackle leads and mulch-pitch routes. We hope to see lots of people out having fun this presidents day weekend :)

I am excited to announce what the Valdez climbers will be up to this Presidents Day Weekend. Visitors and locals are welcome to join in on the fun.

Saturday, February 15

Tackleing the bottom pitch of Bridalveil with a sea of top ropes and ice tools. This will give everyone a chance to warm up and feel out some classic ice in this amazing canyon.

Lots of close by objections will be with in walking range for anyone wanting to explore a less crowded climbing experience.

Head to the Fat Mermaid after a day on the ice for beer, pizza and a cozy wood stove.

Sunday February 16

Staying in the land of the classics (Keystone & Greensteps Area) we are going to be checking our times on a larger top rope and playing a few games at the crag. If any one has a pen, paper and a good imagination make a few notes on the drive down. Lets get creative and see what happens :)

After climbing Nick Weicht is throwing a Alaska sized bonfire at his place when the sun goes down. I promises every one will stay warm no matter the weather!!! Being that there are no official sponsors this will be more of a potluck event going late into the night. I will be cooking up a big batch of spaghetti and if anyone wants to add to the pot that would be great. There will be two open propane grills burning late into the night for folks to use along with spices, table space and lots of chairs. BYOB and by this time there will be lots to celibate so crack a cold one by the hot fire and let the good time role.

Directions- Make a left 200 yards after the Valdez Glacier Stream bridge on your way back in to town. If the driveway fills up park across the highway on Dump Road.

Monday February 17

Dry tool day!! A crew will be gathering at the Tunnel Wall in Keystone Canyon try there skills on a stout 100' vertical face of bare rock packed with 7 new routes! For all the guests headed out this is a great way to get a fast pump before jumping on the road. Catch a ride on one of the top ropes or give these fully sport lines a lead burn. If anyone can pull off the whole wall I will have a new hero.

Directions- Park in the large pullout located at the Old Railway Tunnel, look up and smile.

There are some less traveled ice routs around the corner lots of thick blue to swing at within a few minutes drive.

Head home and enjoy the memories :)

Three days to go and this is what things are looking like in Valdez (Wednesday night)

Current ice conditions are fat, a little brittle yet still very climbable.
Most routes are fully formed in
Keystone
Hole in the Wall
Solomon Gulch
Mineral Creek
17 mile & 19 mile
I would assume Sheep Creek and Bear Creek are looking good
The weather forecast is predicting light snow throughout the Presidents Day Weekend and clearing into the next week.
Temps are suppose to remain in the mid 20's.
Snow pack is rock hard and stable.
As of Wednesday night there has been 2'' of fluffy snow on the ground in town.

I hope this information helps people make an informed decision on what to do in the coming up days.

From Valdez this is Nick saying;
Climb hard, stay safe & have fun this Presidents Day Weekend.

Thanks again for hosting the impromptu fest! I had a blast and it was definitely worth coming up from California for! Can't wait to do it all again next year!

Oh yeah, you can throw one helluva party!