Type: Trad, Ice, 1000 ft (303 m), 5 pitches, Grade III
FA: unknown
Page Views: 7,021 total · 32/month
Shared By: Leo Paik on Apr 5, 2006
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

You & This Route


5 Opinions
Your To-Do List: Add To-Do ·
Your Star Rating:
Rating Rating Rating Rating Rating      Clear Rating
Your Difficulty Rating:
-none- Change
Your Ticks:Add New Tick
-none-
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

Description Suggest change

This line catches your eyes as you read Jack Roberts’ Colorado Ice, Vol. 1 as it describes it as “the longest climb in Colorado and possibly in the lower 48.” Not to be disrespectful, but what about Camp Bird’s 1100 foot Bird Brain Boulevard & 1100 foot The Mainline, Engineer Pass’ 1300 foot Kennedy’s Gulch and 1300 foot Centerfold, Lake City’s 1300 foot, Senor Presidente, Eureka’s 1600 foot Direct North Face & 1100 ft Campground Couloir/Snowblind/Cataract Creek & 1200 foot Stairway to Heaven (going to the top of the ice), the 800m Sherman Climb, Grand Teton’s 1400 foot Black Ice Couloir, Yosemite’s Widow’s Tears? Ah, we digress. A fly over might get your juices going as it looks quite impressive from the air, more so than up close. In essence, it has 200+ feet of steep climbing with a bunch of low angle ice above and below it. Nonetheless, the climb is adventurous, provides a good aerobic day (if warm temps), and has a fairly wild feeling for its proximity to civilization.

Due to the sun exposure on its approach, it is best to pick a cold and/or cloudy day. Due to the snow accumulation along the way, flotation devices (skis or snowshoes) are mandatory. There are big cats that inhabit the area. The season is probably to late March. April is really too late and the ice gets sun exposure and makes it quite confidence-deflating. If the day is sunny and/or warm, it can take 4 hours+ to reverse the approach with thigh to waist deep wallowing.

P1-2. If you go down to the river level, you will find a pitch or two of WI2 ice and snow to the base of the steep section, wonderfully shown on p. 108 of Colorado Ice, Vol. 1. You may wallow up snow to an ideal belay spot. We were informed that this lower bit might not be worth the effort.

P3. You may have choices here. In the above photo, this steep bit appears to be a curtain with short bulges & ramps to start. In late season conditions, you may be give 3 options (left, right, & center). The left side appeared to be wet late in the season. Center was reportedly a steep pillar WI5+ or 6-, imaginary pro, 60 feet. The right side was by far the most reasonable line, WI3+ for 160 feet with a 30 feet WI4 bit at the end. You can certainly split this into 2 pitches.

P4,5,6. Low angle ice WI 1-2. The above mentioned photo does accurately depict their steepness. Each pitch is about 190 feet. Gets you to your first rappel point. Note, any ice screws or V-threads left may melt out.

Note, since there is no WI4 to 6- option for rating, the rating is left as above.

Location Suggest change

Drive US 50 to mile marker 124, about a half hour West of Gunnison. There is a pullout on the North side of the road which lies just East of some power lines. This lies <1 mi East of Alpine Plateau Rd & the Arrowhead Lodge turnoff. Note, keep a low profile, since access/property boundaries are not completely clear.

I'm told this is pretty challenging to find (sorry):

Here, you drop down a loose, steep hillside littered with cans, bottles, and carcasses perhaps 300 vertical feet. Cross a snowbridge (ideally) or balance your way across on partially submerged rocks. Now, work your way up a hillside (600-700 vertical feet) that may be largely free of snow on game trails just right of the powerlines. Go up to the 2nd or 3rd powerline tower (Armin says it's the 4th tower). At the 3rd (Armin says it's the 4th tower), you can gain access to the allegedly public road. Or, at the 2nd, you may be able to contour right. Follow this gently downhill to a fenced area. You can follow the road through a fenced area as it curves left past 4 cabins or you may be able to follow the fence line to the left. You can follow a narrow road (crosses under another set of powerlines) on to the W as it passes a boulder-capped knoll on the left. Just West of this knoll, follow an aspen-filled drainage/gully down (depicted below). Descend probably 600-800 vertical feet to where the ice begins. Rap in off a tree (not fixed) and then with a minimum of 3 V-threads. 3 60m raps gets you to the top of the steep section. Count on 1-4 hours each way. Note, late in the season, this upper parts is entirely exposed to sun and can run with water.

Someone suggested driving to the North rim, descending, & crossing the frozen river, but from what we saw, that looked like a death trap. Word out there is that the FAs used ice skates to access this area from further upstream...yikes!

Protection Suggest change

Ice screws, a stubby or two might be useful, V-thread materials, 60-70m ropes.

Photos

loading