Day Five in the Park

After breakfast we scooted on down the road and got to the Upper Bridge area and set up WHIT's WORLD WI4 40M; BERZERKER WI5 40M;PICK O' THE VIC WI4 40m. The upper bridge area is a belay from the top section of the park into routes that are longer and begin at a harder grade. When you are lowered into the gorge, you MUST be able to climb out. The climbing today was long and sustained though we elected to climb select areas of routes that had better ice. An interesting ice formation I encountered looked like ice cubes or ice balls instead of solid blue ice. Watching some of our guys climb Berzerker was pretty impressive. We hooked up with Peter Smith and Von Slingerlund. Saif and Ross Downer had to leave to day. The remainder of the crew leaves Wednesday. More images of the daye to follow.

Day Four in the Park

The morning after the snow storm brought a beautiful stillness to the mountain setting. Every small sound was amplified 10,000 times. The sun began to peek through the clouds around 0945 and the familiar Ouray Setting was restored: Blue Bird skies. We are climbing today in a an area known as the GRAD SCHOOL. The climbs in this area of the park are 45 meters and one must belay form the top. We climbed here a couple of years ago after a similar snow storm brought about 18 inches of the white stuff. This made for a really exhaustive day climbing ice because the ice was completely covered under about a foot of snow which meant many many pick swings before reaching ice in which to gain the safety of secure purchase. It is absolutely a beautiful day.

Day Three in the Park

Winter has returned to the world at least in this part of the country. Each morning has been colder and colder. The winds were predicted to rip with snowfall throughout the day; so we might be careful what we wish for. We scooted on down the road this morning to set up some routes in ALCOVE. John and Christina got there early enough ( nearly missed claiming this anchor by 5 seconds!!!) to set up Camino WI3; we later were able to climb Banderlero WI4 from these anchors as well. I got there soon afterwards and set up DEAN's LIST ICE  WI4 (bolt#2) and Saif set up READING WI4 (bolt #6). From this time forward the wind increased to 20-30mph and air temp was probably 35; wind chill : freezing ass cold. Around 10am the first snow flakes filled the air until it formed a horizontal slip stream in the wind. This wind-snow added to the dramatic oh-shit effect while climbing vertical ice 20-30m off the deck. Wind burned faces are the badge of honor that identified climbers here today that said, "yeah I missed watching the playoffs on TV, and I'm glad I did."  John Smith setup a photography nest on a ledge and spent the day capturing images on Camino and Banderlero. Another great day  of climbing ended soaking my tired muscles in the hot tub in a snow storm!!!!! Invariably we have the best eats in town at the BACKSTREET BISTRO

Start of the 3rd day	Jason on Dean's list	Ross Downer making the dean's list
Later on in the day as the lines fill up	Up Path to the catwalk. You can avoid the heinous walk down upstream from here by taking this to the stairs.	Looking downstream towards the ALCOVE
John photographing one of us on Camino
A view upstream towards the school room	Leah's helmet Drama!! LOLOLOL	A view from under the catwalk while it snows
Unknown climber on DUNCE WI4	This is a very steep staircase and not for the feint of heart. It is tricky negotiating the rungs with crampons.	Brian
Jason	Vincent	Christina
Christina	JWSmith	Ross Downer

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Looking up stream towards the schoolroom	A view from the landing of the stairway to the bottom of CAMINO and John taking pics.
JWSmith	Accurate view of the steepness of this insane stairway. The sign is for liability purposes I suppose.

Day two in the Park

The day began colder with the threat of something falling from the sky. We converged on the Scottish Gullies and dropped 4 ropes. We climbed POPSTAR WI3; SUNSCREEN WI4; BY GULLY WI2;UK GARAGE WI3. The cooler temps kept the drippy routes at bay and the sun came out and the typical blue bird Ouray sky blanketed our day. John Smith, Leah Werchick, Christina, Court, Mark Elton, Ross Downer, Saif and myself climbed until we were spent. We bagan the day a little sore from the first day and today we pressed on. Pictures are to follow..internet connection sucks.

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Ross Downer sending this stiff section	Leah	Saif
Leah on her first full day on the ice on a stiffy!	Danica, San Juan Guide. We love her to pieces. She's the greatest!	John with his ice goggles from the dollar store.

Day One 2012

The First day of our yearly visit to the small mining town of Ouray Colorado for a week of ice climbing presented a gloriously warm day in the 40s with hero ice that was drippy by days end. It was warn. The day started at 24 degrees and ramped up into unthinkable temps. The best parts of this beginning is we have the park to ourselves . Gone is the zoo-like atmosphere of the ice festival of week one and vacationers of MLK weekend. I climbed today with no hat, 2 pair of work gloves that I brought along, that get wet from use since they really aren't climbing gloves of breathable material, and my base layer. I wore my nano-puff but I was roasting, if you can imagine thins while ice climbing. I never broke out my guide gloves or mittens. We climbed at the school room on WI3s and WI4s just of the couch and we all looked great for thr first day. Tomorrow we'll hit the Scottish gullies and TR WI3-WI5. FK who cares it is all Top Rope (TR). should be much colder tomorrow from here on out. pictures to follow

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Vincent	Dot & Spot
xtrian		Dot and Ross Downer
		Court
John Smith, aka, John Smith

2012 Trip and a Wake UP

Tuesday January 17th and it looks like I'll have to lug my lousy lap top around. We have a great group of climbers converging from all around the country to our favorite ice destination in Ouray Colorado. The temps are going to be a little warmer than we have seen but the nights dip down in to the single digits and the teens. This should prove to be another wonderful time at the Ouray Ice Park. Stay tuned for the fun