2013 Lake City Ice Climbing Festival

This coming Saturday, February 9th, at 9:00 a.m. is the Lake City Ice Climbing Festival. There will be both men and women's timed top rope and lead events. Due to generous sponsorship by the Bent Gate, Camp, Black Diamond, and Mammut, as well as numerous local Lake City sponsors, this year's prizes are off the hook. Four pairs of Camp X-Dream ice tools will go to the first place finishers in each event. Second places will win Black Diamond crampons and ice screws, third places will win Camp harnesses and Mammut quick draws, and fourth places will win 6-packs of Camp and Mammut quick draws. Mammut has also provided a rope, and Camp will be giving out t-shirts, stickers, and other loot. Pro athletes from Camp and Mammut will be putting on free ice climbing clinics to anyone interested, with both beginner and more advanced sessions. Black Diamond, Camp and Mammut will also have free demo gear so that you can try out the latest and greatest the industry has to offer. It is only $25/person/event should you choose to participate and compete for prizes in the festival, or you can simply come and climb for free, try free gear, and attend free ice climbing clinics. As always, it's free to climb at the Lake City Ice Park.

As far as social events this weekend, there will be a meet and greet with free pizza at Restless Spirits Saloon on Friday evening starting at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, after the climbing festival, the awards ceremony will happen at the Packer's Saloon and Cannibal Grill. After the awards ceremony, there is a beach party at the Depot Saloon with live music. This is a weekend that you shouldn't miss if you like to ice climb, meet new people, and have lots of fun. Please visit lakecityiceclimbs.com for a poster with the festival details. Hope to see some of you there.

Finally, Sunday is a local's appreciation day at Wolf Creek. Anyone can buy a $35 lift ticket, and its supposed to be a powder day! Wouldn't it be horrible to have to hit WC on your way home after the festival?

The prize list has been finalized! For both men and women's lead competition, the prizes are: 1st Place) Pair of Camp X-Dream tools, 2nd Place) Mammut Rope and three quickdraws, 3rd Place) Two Balck Diamond Ice Screws and three quickdraws, 4th Place) Three quickdraws, 5th Place) Locking Carabiner.

For men and women's top rope competition, the prizes are: 1st Place) Pair of Camp X-Dream ice tools, 2nd Place) Black Diamond Stinger Crampons and three quickdraws, 3rd Place) Camp Air CR Harness and three quickdraws, 4th place) three quickdraws, 5th place) Locking carabiner.

We will also have a nice backpack up for grabs for some feat of endurance yet to be decided on. The ice is so blue and so nice right now, as Mad Dog has just finished putting the final touches on the ice. See you there!!!