Day One : Just off the Couch in Ouray 2016

The 2015-2016 Ouray season finally started and the ice was farmed 3-4 weeks late due the warm temperatures but just in time for the 2016 Ouray Ice Festival and Competition.  Then of course there was the burst penstock during the festival which an over the top incident that was of concern and sht down park of the park. The Ouray Ice Park is under  a new managment style that affects everything from the work force farming the ice to the purchasing of ice park memberships through the Ouray Ice Park Website which now affects the validation process for the 20% lodging discounts from participating local merchants.

This is the School room

The burst penstocks further exascerbates affects the warm weather by the water diverted by the electric company upstream which has a volume of water flowing through the ice park at unprecedented levels which affects where you can belay from. Many of the climbs in South Park have to be belayed from the top.

Fast forward to January 20th first day off the couch. The same song is playing in Ouray, blue bird skies , hero ice and an insane 33 degrees of weather that terribly spoils eastern climbers.

We climbed in the School Room on the first day and met some friendly Aussies who gave us pointers on how to speak Aussie....JACINTA & BRAIDEN, Lee Jenkins, Greg Cristopolus,Cort Zabel, James PAsterchek, Stevie Macay, Marty Comiskey & John Penrose.