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The Icebox

Colorado > S Platte > Elevenmile Canyon
Warning Access Issue: Seasonal Raptor Closures January 1- July 31st, 2016-2021 DetailsDrop down

Description

The Icebox is the cliff directly across the river from Pine Cone Dome. There are several good sport routes with potential for more. The name comes from the large ice-flow on the upper right-side of the cliff that stay in frozen well into the month of May.

Getting There

Look for the big rock of the left side of the road at the 8.1 mile mark.The rock angles up a ridge and is quite overhanging on the right side. Park as for Pine Cone Dome and walk down canyon, cross the bridge and then go right on a trail to the rock.

Routes from Left to Right

5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 3
● Ice, Ice, Baby
Sport
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 3
● Friction Fix
Trad, Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 19
● Trads Are People, Too!
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 19
● Queen Byron
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 4
● Bob, The Roofer
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 92
● Hemisphere
Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 50
● Corneal Abrasion
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 91
● Brain Freeze
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 7
● The Microfridge
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 19
● Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 1
● Ice Age
Sport
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 5
● The Iceboxer
Sport
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 1
● Sub-Zero
Trad
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 38
● Frozen in Time
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 38
● Unknown Crack
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 27
● A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 3
● Disney on Ice
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Ice, Ice, Baby
 3
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
● Friction Fix
 3
5.11b/c 6c+ 23 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad, Sport
● Trads Are People, Too!
 19
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad
● Queen Byron
 19
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Bob, The Roofer
 4
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad
● Hemisphere
 92
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
● Corneal Abrasion
 50
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
● Brain Freeze
 91
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
● The Microfridge
 7
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
● Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
 19
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Ice Age
 1
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● The Iceboxer
 5
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c Sport
● Sub-Zero
 1
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Trad
● Frozen in Time
 38
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Unknown Crack
 38
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall
 27
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Disney on Ice
 3
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

South Platte river from the Icebox.
[Hide Photo] South Platte river from the Icebox.
The Icebox.
[Hide Photo] The Icebox.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Larry M Shaw
[Hide Comment] This rock has some really good sport climbs, the upper section is steeper and the rock is great. Sep 24, 2006
Christopher Barlow
[Hide Comment] Does anyone have information (name, FA, grade, etc) for the steeper routes on the upper right side of the Icebox? There are eight routes right of Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, including a good 5.10 warm-up, an excellent 5.11+ arete, and an outstanding and difficult (mid 5.13?) line up the middle of the wall. To me, this seems to be some of the best sport climbing in Elevenmile (not to diminish the Spray Wall, which is great but short and offers few options under 5.13). It also looks to have potential for more high end sport and trad lines.

Also, many routes here have anchors that are simply two bolts with hangers and screw-links, sometimes not even screw-links. To me, it's a shame to have such high quality climbs equipped with such sub-par hardware. I will certainly start putting better lowering anchors (i.e. chains) on routes as I get to them. Aug 9, 2009
Stewart M. Green
[Hide Comment] You'll have to wait for the names and grades until the new Elevenmile Canyon guidebook that Bob D'Antonio and I are doing comes out next spring...as for the hardware, all the routes have not been completely equipped yet. There are over 150 new routes in Elevenmile Canyon, most opened by Bob D', me, and friends, so this is the tip of the Icebox...best to just go climb and discover new stuff and leave it at that for now.... Sep 2, 2009
Karl R. Kiser
[Hide Comment] The 10s in this area are good climbs and in the shade for the summer. Aug 9, 2015