This route has access issues. Please read the note available on the Vail Ice page.
Rigid Designator as of Jan 12, 2002
Description
This is perhaps the most spectacular ice formation in the area. The Designator usually forms in a massive pillar of ice detached from the rock with a giant cone at the bottom topped by nearly a hundred feet of vertical ice. Surprisingly, the cone at the base is the crux of the route. The cone usually forms like an open artichoke with layers of petals six or more feet high. Protecting these is difficult and climbing them is awkward. Attacking them directly would involve pulling the short overhangs on picks hooked on the tops of the petals. Fortunately, these petals can be avoided more easily by making short traverses. The upper column is often smooth 90-degree ice to the top. Late in the season this section develops closely spaced dimples from repeated ascents. While it's possible to toprope the Rigid Designator, it is bad form to lock up the ice all day while doing laps on it. If you toprope the Designator, limit your climbing to a few ascents and take your ropes down quickly to allow other teams to enjoy this spectacular climb. Descent: Lower or rappel from anchors above. This rappel requires two ropes.
Protection
Screws, Long screws work best here as the ice is often foamy in the lower cone or chandeliered on top.
Toprope Protection
There are good anchors on top consisting of several fixed slings and rap rings. An additional ~15 ft sling and a biner for a backup is a good idea. Bring two ropes.
You don't have to rappel off the Rigid Designator. Walk east along a well-packed trail that is usually visible a little distance from the top of the climb. There is a (sometimes scary) little chimney in the rock that will dump you out (on your ass, if you aren't careful!) just a little west of the Spiral Staircase. I soloed the Rigid Designator 10 times and never abseiled once to get back down.
One can rap from the top anchors on a single 60m rope. Bear to climbers right as you rappel and prepare for a two meter down climb (maybe). Remember to knot the ends of your rope... getting dumped on your ass, however funny, could send you sledding down to the parking lot on your back. The Designator had a six foot wide chimney gaping from the back and flowing... little scary, very thin at top right!
FYI, this climb is NOT named after a dildo brand and has no X-rated connotation. It is in fact an esoteric linguistic term, I believe it was given this label by Bob Culp. Found on the web: "A rigid designator is a singular term that refers to the same thing in or when evaluated at every possible world in which it has any reference at all. A flaccid designator is a singular term that refers to one thing in one possible world and something else in at least one other possible world."
Something to contemplate on lead, anyway (maybe it is X-rated after all?). Perhaps someone else can recall more of this name or the history of this climb ...
By Leo Paik Administrator From: Westminster, Colorado Feb 8, 2005
Anyone ever do the 2nd pitch of ice above RD?
By Dr. Evil From: Boulder, CO Apr 26, 2007 rating: WI5
Please, do not toprope this climb when others are trying to lead it. If you insist on toproping while others lead, please, be polite and stay out of the leader's way. Being pummeled with ice while leading is not so fun.
Rigid Designator Amphitheatre
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