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Idaho Ice?

Original Post
Amadeus DeKastle · · Bishkek, KG · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 1,455

Hello everyone, I'll be moving from Kyrgyzstan to Idaho soon (for 6 months) just in time for winter climbing. Is there anything, specifically waterfall ice, within a reasonable drive of the Boise area? I saw a picture a couple years ago of some frozen ice in twin falls. Is that a regular occurrence?Will be arriving at the end of November, but assume there won't be anything till January (if there ever is anything...)

Hope to hear from you soon so I can decide whether to bring my gear or leave it behind.

Benjamin Chapman · · Small Town, USA · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 18,818

Amadeus...try searching Cory (from Boise). He lives in Boise, ID, He climbs ice and can give you the 411 on the local ice, as well as Ouray and Hyalite.

Doug Colwell · · Boise, ID · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 5

There's a couple routes outside of Boise, several in Twin Falls and Eastern Idaho. Eastern Oregon has some good climbing as well, but a little more difficult access were snowmobile helps. Boseman's about eight hours from Boise and Cody's about 12. Look me up when you get to Boise, I usually get out in the winter quite often

Doug Colwell · · Boise, ID · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 5

Send me a post when you are coming, I'll reply w email address

Kevin Hansen · · Melba Idaho · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 130

Yep Doug is awesome. Cory too.
Add my name to your list. I'm down for Twin Falls Ice. City of Rocks Ice. Wasatch Ice. Ourey, Hyalite, and Bozeman are a little too far for me, but not Cory.
(208) three won too- 8062

Amadeus DeKastle · · Bishkek, KG · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 1,455

Glad to see that its worth bringing some gear with me! Looks like I'll be staying in Nampa and I heard something about Jump Creek sometimes freezing. We leave this month on the 21st so I'll get in touch with all you guys soon.

Amadeus DeKastle · · Bishkek, KG · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 1,455

Hello again everyone,I'm finally here in the valley and think I'm over jetlag (13 hours difference) and am up for some climbing soon. I know its been pretty cold here for the past week, but do you think any ice has come in? Drop me a line if you are interested in anything.

Also, Sometime in February, one of my friends living in Kyrgyzstan is passing through Colorado on his way to Hawaii (work trips for him are so crappy...) and he wants to hit up Ouray for a few days. Company is easily welcomed on the trip!

EeT · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 0

Haven't done any ice. Trying to gather the gear for it.. but if your interested in some rock routes or bouldering around town let me know I try and boulder couple times a week gihle.elliott@yahoo.com
Cheers

Petsfed 00 · · Snohomish, WA · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 989

I'm down to make a trip out to Twin next weekend, if anybody else is interested.

I'm finding that the Idaho ice climbing scene is either very secretive, or very technologically averse. I'm seeing shots from e.g. Hidden Falls on Facebook, I'll head out there today and see if I get some shots.

Pete Spri · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 347
Brian Scoggins wrote:I'm down to make a trip out to Twin next weekend, if anybody else is interested. I'm finding that the Idaho ice climbing scene is either very secretive, or very technologically averse. I'm seeing shots from e.g. Hidden Falls on Facebook, I'll head out there today and see if I get some shots.
I think the northwest in general does not post as much beta on ice AND rock on MP. Not sure if it is trying to keep it quiet so it doesn't become a CO or UT, or if it is just that people use Cascade Climbers and other Forums for posting stuff instead of adding it to a database. Couldn't say.
Petsfed 00 · · Snohomish, WA · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 989

I haven't seen it on cascade climbers, or anything else that's indexed by google. Closest I got was this

Also, the typical sequence of events with CO/UT takeover (at least as I've seen in Wyoming) is that everybody keeps it so hushed that the local community doesn't really develop, then some dude comes up to visit his in-laws, stumbles on it by accident, and busts the whole thing wide open anyway.

All of the Owyhee ice (Jump Creek, Poison Creek, Hidden) is OUT. It hovered around 33, but clear, the whole time I was up there today. Ground is really muddy too.

Kevin Hansen · · Melba Idaho · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 130

I have lived in Idaho all my life and I've been climbing since 1995, and I think it's a numbers game.
I'd bet that in the whole state, there are less than 1,000 people who call themselves climbers. Then I'd say 75% know how to use a rope and belay properly. The other 25% are hikers and peak bag'n list makers.
Of the 75% that climb vertical maybe 10% of them climb ice.
Many ice climbers are trapped in the Noise area because that's where the jobs are. Outside of the great state of Ada county, farmers and ranchers think ice climbing is for people who are wrong in the head.
Sometimes I think they are right.
Then there's the issue of where to climb.
Option #1 Twin Falls
Option #2 Teton Canyon
Option #3 Trail Creek (Ketchum)
Option #4 Wasatch Range
Option #5 Cody WY or Bozman MT or Ourey CO

Sure the City of Rocks gets ice, but its rare and requires extra toilet paper because of the pucker factor. Then there's the high country ice, like the stuff found in the Lost Rivers, Pioneers, Sawtooth, and Limhi Range. O.5% of ice climbers in Idaho are interested in hiking 5 hours to get to 10,000 feet to climb 3-5 pitches of Alpine ice. (But it is my favorite kind, Doug, and Cory too).
Yep, Idaho is a great playground for sure. You'll have it all to yourself most of the time. Sucks to find partners though.

network54.com/Forum/105717/…

Kevin Hansen · · Melba Idaho · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 130
Twin Falls Jan 9th

Twin was in, but the ice is turning white, dehydrating, and dripping. Yes overnight lows were below freezing, but during the day all the progress is lost and then some.
Unless a week long cold snap hits, Twin is done for.
Pete Spri · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 347
kevinhansen wrote:I have lived in Idaho all my life and I've been climbing since 1995, and I think it's a numbers game. I'd bet that in the whole state, there are less than 1,000 people who call themselves climbers. Then I'd say 75% know how to use a rope and belay properly. The other 25% are hikers and peak bag'n list makers. Of the 75% that climb vertical maybe 10% of them climb ice. Many ice climbers are trapped in the Noise area because that's where the jobs are. Outside of the great state of Ada county, farmers and ranchers think ice climbing is for people who are wrong in the head. Sometimes I think they are right. Then there's the issue of where to climb. Option #1 Twin Falls Option #2 Teton Canyon Option #3 Trail Creek (Ketchum) Option #4 Wasatch Range Option #5 Cody WY or Bozman MT or Ourey CO Sure the City of Rocks gets ice, but its rare and requires extra toilet paper because of the pucker factor. Then there's the high country ice, like the stuff found in the Lost Rivers, Pioneers, Sawtooth, and Limhi Range. O.5% of ice climbers in Idaho are interested in hiking 5 hours to get to 10,000 feet to climb 3-5 pitches of Alpine ice. (But it is my favorite kind, Doug, and Cory too). Yep, Idaho is a great playground for sure. You'll have it all to yourself most of the time. Sucks to find partners though. network54.com/Forum/105717/…
Good post. I live close to the northern Idaho panhandle. In general, the climbing scene is slow and mostly sport, let alone trad, let alone ice. For us up here, you get more bang for your buck driving 6 hours to Banff or over to MT. I think there is stuff more locally, but few put in effort to find and establish it. Those that do certainly don't post it, and I think that its more of the fact that if you are hungry for it, you are going to figure out the spots yourself.

And you are right about alpine. The better climbing I northern Idaho is the alpine type, including rock.
Kevin Hansen · · Melba Idaho · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 130
magicvalley.com/lifestyles/…

I hope to get over there today to see if anything is in.
I'd be shocked if anything is in because of the last two weeks temps have been so warm.
Oh, I'm the one in the photo by the way.
Petsfed 00 · · Snohomish, WA · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 989
Yellow Pine roadside ice
Went to yellow pine yesterday. The drive is long and tedious (plan for 3 hours from cascade) but the roadside ice by Caton Creek was in pretty good. We found lines ranging from 2 to 3+, but on average about 40 feet long.

Around mile marker 21 on road 674, we saw additional flows above the road that we did not investigate. Also, many lines on the opposite bank from the caton creek flows. Bring a raft?
Kevin Hansen · · Melba Idaho · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 130

Bryan, are you available this weekend?

Petsfed 00 · · Snohomish, WA · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 989

Unfortunately, I am not. I'll see about next weekend though.

Amadeus DeKastle · · Bishkek, KG · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 1,455

So my schedule is finally freed up, but I fear that ice season is basically gone already. Please tell me I'm wrong!

Todd Bevans · · Boise, ID · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 0

I'm so happy that this thread exists. I'm moving (back) to Boise from Virginia. I feel like I've taken east coast ice for granted after researching Idaho ice or the lackthereof.

ChantelleM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2016 · Points: 15

I am hoping to add a question to this thread as there is already a great Idaho ice climbing discussion being had..

Is there a recommended place to top-rope ice in Idaho/ eastern OR at all? I just made a trip to Bozeman and have Cody and Ouray trips coming up but I am looking to practice some mock-leading and other skills back home in between to advance faster and I am not comfortable leading ice yet?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern Utah & Idaho
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