The 2014-2015 Colorado Ice Conditions Thread

Scott McMahon wrote:Driving down canyon yesterday I saw a pretty decent pillar forming off the dome. That's all the beta I had, but i could be pretty interesting!

That's the rock climb "Black Plague". Not much gear and the ice is usually too fragile for pro. If you go for it be careful not to leave scratch marks and create access issues. It's only about 30 ft but it's steep!

Ketchup wrote: That's the rock climb "Black Plague". Not much gear and the ice is usually too fragile for pro. If you go for it be careful not to leave scratch marks and create access issues. It's only about 30 ft but it's steep!

It seem to be a pillar actually. But interesting! Thanks!

Anybody been up Silk Road lately? Is it a pipedream to try climbing it Friday?

Decent photo of the Dome from this week.

Decent shot of the Dome and the ice pillar from earlier this week.

Michael West wrote:Anybody been up Silk Road lately? Is it a pipedream to try climbing it Friday?

or down it...

mountainproject.com/v/first…

Great day for ice climbing in Eldorado Canyon yesterday! What is the name of this allusive ice climb? Anyone know?

Right of The Whittle Wall.

Before the tinkering began....

Drew ready to send this steep step. Only placed 2 screws in 100 feet (could've placed a few more, but the supplemental rock gear was more inspiring...).

Dan Hackett cleaning up the leftovers....

Drew Spaulding wrote:Great day for ice climbing in Eldorado Canyon yesterday! What is the name of this allusive ice climb? Anyone know?

http://www.mountainproject.com/v/off-the-hook/107468354

Interesting writeup about the 1st Flatiron historic descent on 3/5/15 in the Denver Post: here.

Was up on Silk Road yesterday, thin-ish down low, then some really great climbing up higher. But, with the warmer weather today and tomorrow, I think much of the ice may be gone or ready to delaminate with some weight.

Anyone know if there is ice down in Rifle right now?

Any beta on cold storage or freezer burn in the Loch Vale Area?

Also the route descriptions say 60 and 40 feet respectively (80 and 60 in Cam Burns book) but the pics don't make them look any higher than about 15 feet or so...

Shepido wrote:Any beta on cold storage or freezer burn in the Loch Vale Area? Also the route descriptions say 60 and 40 feet respectively (80 and 60 in Cam Burns book) but the pics don't make them look any higher than about 15 feet or so...

Definitely depends on how deep the snow is. Most times I've been to Loch Vale, they've been a lot like you describe. 20-30 ft and not nearly as hard as the guidebook describes. I could see them being longer if the snowpack is low.

I haven't been up that way in a month, so I don't have any good recent conditions beta. Hope this at least helps a bit.

Shepido wrote:Any beta on cold storage or freezer burn in the Loch Vale Area? Also the route descriptions say 60 and 40 feet respectively (80 and 60 in Cam Burns book) but the pics don't make them look any higher than about 15 feet or so...

I was up the Loch about 2 weeks ago. They both looked good then and it has been cold since (except for today). Loch Vale Gorge was in decent shape Thursday.

Anyone been up to black lake area. Is there snow for a ski approach? Hows west gully area? Avy, if theres ice etc...thanks!

I made up to cold storage and freezer burn. They were both covered in about 3 inches of slushy 'snice' which needed to be removed to get to solid ice. I think with the warm temps and sun exposure they likely have a few days left and that's it. The approach took 2 hours of post holing hell from the loch alone. The crypt looked good and beautifully blue.

A happy first day ice camper at Hidden Falls...

Cut.

I was wondering why no one had posted anything about Longs Meeker area. I found out yesterday why. My girl and I post holed the whole way from the junction to Chasm lake (it took at lease two hours) and climbed TFD. The snow on TFD was surprisingly firm and the ice pitch was in good condition. Please enjoy our trail!

"Off The Hook" in Eldorado Canyon on March 4th, 2015. Here today, gone to Maui...

mountainproject.com/v/off-t…

youtu.be/FfcZYmp1dSY

youtu.be/PymVJyCTMcc

Anyone checked out Eureka or Camp Bird lately?

CCChanceR wrote:Anyone checked out Eureka or Camp Bird lately?

Should be plenty ice out there especially in the shady spots, overnight lows have been good. Snow conditions can be a little touchy, lots of avy activity in the area.

BTW did you snowboard Commodore trees recently, was up there yesterday and some snowboarder post holed the ski track on the lower part?

Ok thanks! No I haven't been up there in three or four weeks, I can usually make it out strapped in too haha