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Castlewood Canyon State Park - Ice
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Castlewood Canyon State Park - Ice

Submitted By: Leo Paik on Mar 19, 2006
Administrators: Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac
Elevation: 5,000 feet
Views: 4,035 page views

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BETA PHOTO: Castlewood Canyon Ice Pillar


Description 

There have been rumors of ice to form in this small canyon, perhaps during times prior to global warming. This area lies at a very low altitude and consequently is subject to the whims of chinooks, Colorado's low latitude, and fickle warm spells in the middle of winter. But, then again, desperate ice climbers have been known to swing tools on frozen water fountain creations. Nonetheless, there have been climbs here done with ice tools & crampson in the WI2-4 range. Some of these have been documented in P. Hubbel's Front Range Crags. Others come from word of mouth.

There is a wonderful shot of ice, albeit short, dripping here on this website.

So, come but be prepared to find less than big blue here. Some have said that the most commonly frozen features get quite short with healthy doses of snow around these parts.


Getting There 

S of Denver, this is in the Castlewood Canyon State Park. It lies E of I-25, north of Castle Rock, south of Denver. Probably if you come from anywhere further a field, you may be disappointed with what you may find here.


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Castlewood Canyon State Park - Ice:
Licorice Stick Ice/Mixed   M2-3     TR, Mixed, 1 pitch, 40 feet   Cherry Creek Falls Area
Browse More Classics in Castlewood Canyon State Park - Ice

Photos of Castlewood Canyon State Park - Ice Slideshow Add Photo
Delicate wrist-flick pickin' into a soggy, sun-baked pillar.  Don't expect this one to last long!  (24 Jan 2007)

Delicate wrist-flick pickin' into a soggy, sun-bak...

Climb up a short step, then tunnel thru squeeze chimneys to cliff band summit.

BETA PHOTO: Climb up a short step, then tunnel thru squeeze ch...

It Finally Happened. So says the e-mail I received.

It Finally Happened. So says the e-mail I received...