Cody Ice - Smoked Turkey - Route Finding

Looked for Smoked Turkey today, but turned back unsuccesful after a late start. Can you see the climb from the river? If you hit the high cut banks on the river have you gone too far? Any obvious landmarks or help would be appreciated. Thanks

The easiest approach I've found is to hike the main trail for about a quarter mile until you break out into the clearings overlooking the ranch property. Look for an obvious bench on the ridge line that you will be facing as you hike up the trail. Work your way up the hillside until you hit a well used game trail (if it's not buried) that leads directly to the bench. Once on the bench, keep that elevation and contour all the way around the next drainage looking for ice up the hill (about another 1/4 mile at least). If the ice is in you can't miss it. Taking this approach will save you having to screw around in the river bottom not knowing where to go up the hillside. The actual drainage is about a hundred yards past the cutbanks you described. Most approaches in cody seem to be considerably farther than the book suggests, adds to the fun I guess. Stay warm

The approach described is the easiest, if you can suss it out. You have to cross a steep drainage along the way. If you stay down by the river, you will come to a spot where you are forced up onto a rock outcrop. You will find a trail just above the outcrop. Follow that to the first major drainage perpendicular to the trail. You cannot see Smoked Turkey from the approach (either one), but you can see the Grandma's Chicken gully from the lower approach. Go up the drainage until you see a short flow of ice in an amphitheater on the right, before you get to Grandma's Chicken - this is the first pitch of Smoked Turkey. IMO, this climb is not worth the walk unless you go on up to Drumstick and Left Wing. All the pitches are visible from High on Boulder. Hope this helps. Whichever way you approach, let us know how things look up there!

Thanks Jon. I thought we did what you described, but maybe the climb is not in. ColdFear did say it was in thgouh. Might do High on Boulder tomorrow as we saw that it was in today. Do you know if you can see Smoked Turkey from High on Boulder? Any other WI3 or 4 climbs that are in that you would recommend?

Thanks Keith. We will hit High on Boulder and take a look at Smoked Turkey to see if seems worhtwhile. Any climbs in that you recommend?

I'm across the state right now, so Jon would have a better read on what's in. Aaron is a notorious optimist, but if he says Moratorium is in, it should be in reasonable condition. Bring your stubbies, but the climbing is WI 3-4 all the way.

I'd stick to the north facing routes at the moment. This cold snap will help a lot but the valley's been sluggish this year in coming in. Keith is right, smoked turkey is only worth it if you do the final pitches. Spotted owl, bozo's, Smooth emerald, and HOB are consistent performers. The first 2 pitches of mean green then traversing left to duck soup is a great day if the pitches are in. Moratorium is in but pretty skinny right now, great line though. Keep an eye on main vein and broken hearts. December can be a little hit and miss in Cody. Jan-March are much more predictable months to climb here for the classics.