Hidden Falls (main) 

Check the CO ice thread for pictures. Was just on the main flow yesterday, and it was "IN" but thin and felt like WI4+ at least. The upper portion of the falls is pretty chandeliered, thin, and hollow, so be careful.

We went in to Hidden Falls on 11/28 and decided, for the greater good, not to climb it. The start of the climb is only a few feet wide and 4-12 inches thick. There was a lot of water coming over the top of the cliff, soaking the upper part of the climb thoroughly. The upper WI4 pillar, if it is left alone, will be quite large and solid in a week or so.

The best thing would be to leave the climb alone for a few more days. It will only take one person with more enthusiasm than skill to ruin it for the season.

The far left side chimney was mostly rock with a little ice. There was a short steep smear off to the right that looked interesting but hard.

Hidden Falls, RMNP, 12/20/01. Main flow in center is fat, dry, brittle, and not yet hacked to pieces. Good fun. Easy gully on left is fat and wet. Thin stuff on right is not touching down. Approach is packed snow, with many bare spots.

Falls pretty well formed now. Lots of traffic past few days, getting hacked out already. There is now a trail heading toward the falls due to heavy traffic.

This is a great route (on the rare occasion that it isn't crowded). I climbed it the second week of December 2001. I decided to venture too far to the right onto some thin, brittle ice near the top. Some pieces broke off, as did my leg. Whoops, I hope I never do that again. Next time I'll stay a little closer to the center.

The main flow is definitely in, though crowded, as is the easier flow to the left. The flow to the right (WI4?) has come in in just the last two weeks, from talking with people there. A little thin at the start, but after 5' it's nice. Photo to follow.

Hidden Falls is good and fat. It is very hacked up though, with nice ledges for the feet all the way up. Cold temps made it very brittle today and hard to start a screw. Both the right and left side variations are looking good.

Trail in is packed but lots of dirt and rocks - don't use skis. Main flow is stepped out but still a challenge to lead due to difficulty placing screws in brittle ice. Julian solved problem by soloing to the top. No crowd at all on Sunday only two teams all morning. Careful climbing under others, saw several death blocks come down, one smashed my lunch. Belay from fallen tree but be alert and wear helmet at all times. Mixed line at right looks doable but thin at the start and mixed finish (M-4?) Overhanging vertical crack with drytooling and camming with adze. Top-ropeable. Has anyone climbed this on lead to the top?? Name of route??

Hidden Falls is a hookfest (as anyone who would climb there is probably aware), at about straight WI4. Both sides are in (2-3 lines possible simultaneously), and it was cold and brittle on 3-3. The heavy winds probably have blown off most of the spindrift that would have melted to reform anything; it's pretty ugly right now, but the mixed left-side stuff was fun for my partner. Me, I sketched out on my 2nd lead and got a rope from the leftside anchor. Difficult pro, not much left to screw into. Have at it. :)

I Climbed Hidden Falls In RMNP today. The Ice is thin and cauliflowered. Mostly stubby screws. The pillar on top is touching but did not seem so solid. We did the little mixed finish going left out of the cave. The river is not frozen completely. We had to walk a dead tree down stream from the normal crossing. The trail is all snow, but snowshoes aren't needed. We skied all the way in on nice snow. In a couple more weeks of COLD weather it should be in really good.

The falls are climbable, but not fat by any means. The pillar at the top is barely attached so be careful.

We climbed it on Sunday 12/1/02. Main falls is in but still not very fat. The lower third is not as broad as usual. The middle third is comprised of a lot of icicles, and was dripping on Sunday. The WI4 upper pillar is a bit smaller than usual, and is only attached to the top lip with about one square foot of contact area. We were too nervous to lead it, but when we toproped it, it felt and sounded pretty good. A brave party after us led it fine. Small climb to left is in (short WI2?); small climb to right does not touch down the last 12 feet but can be led. We walked up to Ouzel Falls - the short cliffband 100 yards south of the falls that often ices up is bone dry.

Climbed at Hidden Falls on 12/20. Main pillar has come in nicely, but is quite wet; doubt that a screw would hold much. Fine for TR'ing, but perhaps not for leading. Weird day; never made it above freezing, but the ice was running with water all day long. Trail is well packed.

On the left side of the main flow lies a short 15-20' problem that has been sractched up many times. The moves are dicey and steep (M6+) with a little overhanging ice at the top. Really fun way to toprope this ice is to start on the M6+ mixed problem to the WI3 ramp, then traverse right to the overhanging, mixed cauliflower (M4). It gives the climber a good pump and great technical diversity. Too bad it can't be lead safely or without bad rope drag.

I know this will not be a popular opinion, but I have to speak out. I have always really loved mixed climbing considering it to be one of the finest expression of what climbing is all about. BUT... The current raging fad of dry tooling is taking a toll on the environment that is not yet being addressed. One needs only look at the left side base of "Hidden Falls" to see what I am refering to. The dry tooling start here is so scratched up by the poor technique of a multitude of well intentioned ascensionists that it has the appearance of a permanent chalk tattoo. Certainly in the long run this environmental degradation has the same potential for damage as early iron mongery did. Pin use and the subsequent scar damage has been significantly reduced by a consensus of climbers agreeing to change their practices. I am not suggesting that everyone stop dry tooling, or that only the elite few practice it. I am saying that everyone should endeavor to climb without ruining the medium of ascent. Use good technique or wait till your good enough to not flail at it. I'll crawl back to my den of obscurity now. Thanks for the soap box. Phil Broscovak

Well said, Phil.

Thanks for the well-needed reminder, Phil. Please tread lightly.

Hidden Falls is still in great but is REALLY hooked out. Still had a great time. We did the thin dihedral just to the right of the flow. (It goes up to a ledge just below a steep offwidth.) Then traversed right on the ledge for about thirty feet right. Another steep, short rock pitch to the top. Don't know anything about it but it was killer. A little bit of ice at the base of the second pitch made it a legit mixed route. If anyone has done this or knows a rating let me know. tomjensen393@hotmail.com

Main Falls look steep, are very fat, & are way hooked out making it feel 3+. L is fat. Both R lines are in nicely. Trail is stomped out.

Also, S. St. Vrain is very anemic-looking.

Ice is a very fragile, transitory medium. It is after all slow moving water. Icicles need to be nurtured often by being left alone till later. Climbing ice too soon is tantamount to the farmer tugging at his shoots to get his crop in sooner. Maybe soon we will see a plethora of indoor ice climbing gyms where all the hackers can dang and hangle. Till then let the ice grow! Remember there is a "special place" in hell for 'cicle sackers.

A bit wet today.

Climbed Hidden Falls today. The ice was the best I have observed in the last couple of years. Water was running down the middle and right side.

I climbed several variations today at the falls, and had an awesome time. Believe it or not, no one else was around. I was however a little concerned about the two anchors in the rock, on the upper left. Only two anchors I saw. One anchor appears to have some type of epoxy on it, and the other was loose, bolt and hanger. I am by no means an anchor expert, and I am sure they are fine for the time being. However, for as much traffic as the falls see, and the poor conditions in which these anchors live, it is only a matter of time. Any word on replacement? What is RMNP stand on such things? Just want to keep the climbing safe. Willing to help out if need be.

It would be nice if everyone could have a little more patience and wait till it forms a little more before climbing it!

Climbed this route today. First time on ice. Main line seemed good enough to me. However, everything else seemed a bit too thin to me and my more experienced partner as well.

Hidden is in pretty good. There were about 12 climbers there today.

Great conditions considering the lack of snow.

2/17/2013 conditions. Submitted By: Kevin Gillest on Feb 19, 2013

Ice is pretty beat up 2/27/13.

If there is any one who could give an up-to-date condition report, that would be greatly appreciated. Trying to make the trip within the next two days, and that would save me some time and money.