Ouray Ice Park 2019: Day FIVE in the Ouray Ice Park

Man, the routine for the past 5 days has been wake up at 0630. Walk down for Breakfast at the COMFORT INN (why stay anywhere else?) and then leave the room for the 15 minute approach to the memorial at the bridge. It was 5 degrees in the parking lot but if you don't wear hardly anything at all you'll just be warm by the time you get there to donn your helmet and crampons which are required to enter the park. And so we are walking to whatever climb by about 0810. At first it is a grind , maybe because we're all still asleep but once you get to the tree or anchor you had in mind, you quickly become focused and your day really begins.

We were supposed to meet Lee and Sir Simon at the bridge for a send off since they are leaving today but them slackers were no where in sight at 0800. We hooked up with Saif and the 4 of us went back to, you guessed it SOUTH PARK. We set up Fingerbang WI5, Cartman's Mom WI5 and Cartman's Mom part2 WI4 for a day of hard climbing.

Jason started up Fingerbang and did a fishflop onto a ledge and finished 4/5th of this climb but hey, WI5 on his 5th day of climbing aint too bad. John Smith, not to be out done by anyone, decides become one with the ice and take one in the face. The scarlet indicator on the route marked the mishap in all its crimson gory. I am sure he will post images for everyone to see. He is OK. It looked much worse than it looked...

Saif ran up fingerbang like it was JANS FACE at Carderock and he too left for the airport. Jason's flight has been canceled so he will be climbing with us another day. We were able gather "a" group of us for a picture with the flag. We climbed from about 9am until 230-holy shit. we were tired.

Here is the best secret in Ouray. On Tuesdays The Backstreet Bistro has a dinner special cooked by the chef and owner for you. The 5 of us made reservations and we were treated to an unbelievable dinner and catered to by the Chef/owner. NAZ turned me on to this last year. All I can say is OMG. This place is INSANE!!!!

One last tidbit. The NEW Ouray Brewery allowed me to affix one of our CLUB Stickers in their establishment. I'll post a picture of this unique, soon to be, Landmark, here in the Town of Ouray!