When does Ouray get busy before the ice fest? And quiet down after?

Any thoughts on how much the Ouray ice festival crowds tend to bleed over into the days before and after the actual event?  

I would like to head to Ouray (from SLC) Saturday night. Motivated to climb, festival-ing not so much. Curious how many days I'll get before the crowds make it hard to get on routes in the park and/or surrounding backcountry.

(Will be looking for partner(s) for ice and bc skiing also, and will post separately.)

Thanks for any reflections.

You are pretty fine the Thursday before and the Monday after the Ice Fest in general, I would say. Friday isn't bad, either. Plus, all the swinger couples will be out looking to chat you and your girlfriend up. 

I’m here in Ouray now, the park is active but not slammed. The popular areas like Schoolyard and South Park had ropes up on the most in routes, but other areas were open. Longest we waited to get on a line we wanted was 15 minutes. I suspect the weekdays will actually get lighter than that until Thursday.

Thanks! On my way...

What's to he consensus for Fri sat sun as fae as climbing goes? Too many people?

Saturday will be a complete shit show, so plan on drinking heavily and throwing ice at the topropers.

why on earth would you go to that little dark valley for the festival if you don't want festies rubbing your face in their festicles, their fest-dropped-icicles, etc.?  are you daft?

still, to be fair, the ice in Ouray might only come into style/season another few years, and what's a few custies tr-oping above you detract from the experience anyway?  you could get some pretty mean IG face-slices for to share if you just go underneath someone.

wait, do I sound bitter?  well maybe that's because some custie-B got B-hurt by some falling I in her face after I said RAWK and she looked up.