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mtengaio
Oct 26, 2004, 10:13 PM
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Does anyone know if the Ouray Ice Park has anything for beginning ice climbers? I'm thinking of going to the festival in Jan.
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forkliftdaddy
Oct 26, 2004, 10:16 PM
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They have top-roping, don't they?
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crotch
Oct 26, 2004, 10:20 PM
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There are plenty of easy ice-climbs there. With long slings, you can TR many climbs off of trees. It would be nice to have an ice-screw or two to use as directionals, or for an additional anchor point. You will, of course, need to know how to set up a decent toprope and should take appropriate precautions (anchor yourself to something) while setting up a TR.
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csproul
Oct 26, 2004, 10:33 PM
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There is plenty there to top rope off, and lots for beginning leads as well. I am planning on being there right before X-mas. Can anyone tell me if the ice is in good shape by then in the ice park as well as the surrounding areas?
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maldaly
Oct 26, 2004, 10:46 PM
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There are stacks and stack and stacks of good easy ice climbs in Ouray. Don't hesitate to go.
The ice is usually good after mid-December. Go to www.ourayicepark.com and click on the conditions link. Lot's of other good beta there.
Wear a helmet.
Mal
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mtengaio
Oct 26, 2004, 10:47 PM
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Sounds like a great place. I'll check it out. Like any other climbing festival, I imagine all the easier stuff will be crowded.
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flower
Oct 26, 2004, 10:50 PM
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By Christmas the ice is fine, no concerns there. However, for mtengaio, who started the thread, unless you're going primarily for the circus aspect of the festival I would recommend going earlier or later. The place gets really crowded and a bit intimidating for those of us not completely dialed in ice climbing. Also keep in mind the ice is pretty chewed up for a couple weeks after the festival.
Good luck.
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furrymurry
Oct 27, 2004, 12:20 AM
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I'm in pretty much the same boat and was planning on going to the festival. The problem is that I can't really find anyone to go with me. If I just show up (possibly even a few days early) will I have a good chance of finding someone to climb with me, or vice versa?
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vashie
Oct 27, 2004, 12:58 AM
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Ya, probably, it’s relatively easy to find a partner. Heck, I'll climb with ya, that’s if the weather is good for hitch-hikeing, if not I'm goin to Cascade for a week! :righton:
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climbsomething
Oct 27, 2004, 1:14 AM
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Sooo... let's say a decent rock climber with absolutely NO ice experience or gear saved up some money, snagged a partner with some ice experience, and went to Ouray. Let's say that climber is also really really small. My, um, her, rock shoes are a size 35 euro (or smaller) and she fist jams #2 camalot cracks. Can the rental footwear, etc accomdate her, or is she S.O.L.?
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mother_sheep
Oct 27, 2004, 1:20 AM
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In reply to: Sooo... let's say a decent rock climber with absolutely NO ice experience or gear saved up some money, snagged a partner with some ice experience, and went to Ouray. Let's say that climber is also really really small. My, um, her, rock shoes are a size 35 euro (or smaller) and she fist jams #2 camalot cracks. Can the rental footwear, etc accomdate her, or is she S.O.L.?
YES!! Of course!!! Are you coming?
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climbsomething
Oct 27, 2004, 1:29 AM
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In reply to: In reply to: Sooo... let's say a decent rock climber with absolutely NO ice experience or gear saved up some money, snagged a partner with some ice experience, and went to Ouray. Let's say that climber is also really really small. My, um, her, rock shoes are a size 35 euro (or smaller) and she fist jams #2 camalot cracks. Can the rental footwear, etc accomdate her, or is she S.O.L.? YES!! Of course!!! Are you coming?
If I can sucker Reno into it, maybe we can form an AZ Ice Climbers team and come in during a non-Festival weekend (crowds, blah). hehehehehe... AZ Ice Climbers.
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climbsomething
Oct 27, 2004, 1:31 AM
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Ya hear that, Reno? I might have to stalk you :twisted: Luckily for you, you have sharp metal objects to keep me at bay :P
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mother_sheep
Oct 27, 2004, 1:34 AM
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Sweet Hillary! All the gear is there. Come in your undies (the guys will like that) and they'll outfit you from head to toe for free!!
As far as Reno goes. . .tell him that I'll let him borrow Torrey for the night if he'll drive you out.
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reno
Oct 27, 2004, 2:39 AM
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In reply to: As far as Reno goes. . .tell him that I'll let him borrow Torrey for the night if he'll drive you out.
A man doesn't need any more motivation that that! I'm so in!
But the irony of "Arizona Ice Climbers..." THAT is just too funny.
Most people in Arizona only see ice when it's in their cocktail glass.
Oh, I can't wait for ice season. Mmmm... Chicks with Picks.
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pheenixx
Oct 27, 2004, 3:42 AM
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Yeah, Ice Climbers from Arizona...ahah-hah-hah-hah. We'll kick all their littl' cactus-envying spiny little ice butts. I'll be there (few days early before ice gets ravenged).
Re: Beginners. ALL YA HERE ME KNOW..!! Better be callin' Erin 1st thing Monday a.m. to get yer selves registered into an ice class for beginners. It'll be your best $15 investment ever made. Cya on the other forum "2005 Ouray"
HaH-HAH :twisted:
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elvislegs
Oct 27, 2004, 4:57 AM
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attention reno, climbsomething, sheep-girl, pheenix, sharpie.
if you come a week (or a few days) early. i will be there climbing with my friend abbott and others, and then leaving about the time all the crowds arrive. we will be climbing non-fuggin-stop so it will be easy to find us.
we have extra ice tools and are willing to lend them to little people who live in un-godly hot climates surrounded by thousands of old people in RV's.
i would love to climb with you all.
(yes i know that this has sort-of been discussed in the ouray 05 thread and various PM's, but i want to make sure YOU PARTICULARLY all know that I would like to rope up with you... dig? dig.)
if you are all lucky reno and i will reprise our grammy winning cover of todd snyder's beer run song.
word.
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timd
Oct 27, 2004, 6:04 AM
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Ya, everyone from RC.com should show up and we could climb as a group, show the new people to the sport just how cool and safe it all really is! I like showing the new people the sport. However I must post this warning:
ICE CLIMBING IS VERY ADDICTIVE AND SHOULD BE PERSUED WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM!
See you all there!
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climbsomething
Oct 27, 2004, 7:05 AM
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I WANNA KLIMB ICE WITH SEAN!!!! I'll flail like a total gumby. I'll be like, wah, my toes are cold and my snot is frozen and take dammit take!!!!!11 It'll be rad.
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anykineclimb
Oct 27, 2004, 10:13 AM
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Mmmm Frozen snot.. strangly attractive...
I'll be there, still trying to figure out how long though. I'll only have 3 weeks home before heading back. Would like to be there for the actual festival but also want to get in some climbing without beating back the hordes.
isn't there some sort of RC.com party slowly coming together??
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elvislegs
Oct 27, 2004, 8:49 PM
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In reply to: I WANNA KLIMB ICE WITH SEAN!!!! I'll flail like a total gumby. I'll be like, wah, my toes are cold and my snot is frozen and take dammit take!!!!!11 It'll be rad.
mmmmmmmhhhmmmmmmmmm!11
http://www.columbia.edu/~tjf24/snotcicle.jpg
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climbsomething
Oct 27, 2004, 8:54 PM
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Mmmm. Salty popsicles.
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elvislegs
Oct 27, 2004, 8:57 PM
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can you believe that is the best google image could do with the words "frozen snot"?!
so disappointing.
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roboclimber
Oct 27, 2004, 9:14 PM
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I know that I am on the tail end of the discussion, but I have a question. I would like to try ice for the first time this year in Ouray (the partners I am going with have a single set of tools, so I can't borrow). So, should I buy tools before I go or should I/can I rent tools once I get there? I am almost certain that I will use the tools again (even if I dislike waterfall ice, I have plans for some alpine ice this spring). Thanks.
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elvislegs
Oct 27, 2004, 9:22 PM
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no, don't buy before.
even if you just dig ice climbing like nobody's business you'll want to shop around for those tools before plunking down four bills.
the gear tents in ouray have MUCH to demo, and all the best. you can play with top-o-the-line gear for a half day at a time, then come back and b.s. with mark twight while you get set up with more. it's pretty cool.
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pheenixx
Oct 28, 2004, 2:39 AM
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In reply to: attention reno, climbsomething, sheep-girl, pheenix, sharpie. if you come a week (or a few days) early. i will be there climbing with my friend abbott and others, and then leaving about the time all the crowds arrive. we will be climbing non-fuggin-stop so it will be easy to find us. we have extra ice tools and are willing to lend them to little people who live in un-godly hot climates surrounded by thousands of old people in RV's. i would love to climb with you all.
That's mighty neighborly of you elvislegs. Thanks.. :D I look forward to meeting / climbing / hanging with ya whatever.
In reply to: I WANNA KLIMB ICE WITH SEAN!!!! I'll flail like a total gumby. I'll be like, wah, my toes are cold and my snot is frozen and take dammit take!!!!!11 It'll be rad.
Not sure what SEAN you mean but I'm klimbin' with him Sunday... :D Will you come and take pictures..? (I noticed your're a RAD photog Hill) I'll let you borrow my x-tra set of mono-points for a day or I'll buy you film, a beer, 3 beers whatever....u-name it....I'll introduce you... :lol:
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pheenixx
Oct 28, 2004, 2:48 AM
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In reply to: ....(the partners I am going with have a single set of tools, so I can't borrow). So, should I buy tools before I go or should I/can I rent tools once I get there? I am almost certain that I will use the tools again (even if I dislike waterfall ice, I have plans for some alpine ice this spring). Thanks.
Why can't you borrow your "partners" tools..?? If you are all 3 climbing together, only the person climbing needs the tools. Or you can borrow a free pair for the day in Ouray then if you pick up another rope + belayer, 2 people can be climbing at the same time (different routes of course). With alpine ice - you may want different tools. Don't buy unless your sure -- it's a lot of $$. WI tools tend to be more curved/angled for x-treme vertical ascents.
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timd
Oct 28, 2004, 4:43 AM
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An RC.com party would be pretty sweet. but the question is, how would we know who everyone is in order to get together to climb? Any suggestions?
I plan on being there Friday-Sunday.
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anykineclimb
Oct 28, 2004, 4:51 AM
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OK everyone from rc.com wear a fleece jacket, a BLACK one. so we can identify each other.
But seriously, theres a thread in the gatherings section on a Ouray get together.
I'd love to meet and climb with you crazy peeps.
I'm thinking on being there thursday to saturday
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zozo
Oct 28, 2004, 7:07 PM
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Just about everyone going from the springs has never ice climbed before. It would be fun to get a group of ice noobies together. We can all suck at the same time!!
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reno
Oct 28, 2004, 7:27 PM
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In reply to: So, should I buy tools before I go or should I/can I rent tools once I get there? I am almost certain that I will use the tools again (even if I dislike waterfall ice, I have plans for some alpine ice this spring). Thanks.
Do not buy tools until you've had a chance to climb with them.
I was looking to buy some ice tools last year. Went to the REI in Denver, hefted a few pairs, thought I liked the BD's the best, but didn't care for the Trango Madame Hooks.
Went to Ouray, climbed with the same BD tools, and didn't like them at all. On the contrary... couldn't stand 'em. On the other hand, I climbed with the Madam Hooks, and I loved 'em.
Tools feel different. They plant different, they swing different, they pull different. They're different. So until you climb with them, don't buy.
You'll have plenty of options to sample in Ouray. Heck, you can climb with 3 different sets a day for 3 days straight and not try them all.
Patience, grasshoppah.
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claramie
Oct 28, 2004, 7:54 PM
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Form an AZ contingent to go up to Ouray?... I'd be down for that if the timing works out. I very well could be free in January. Please keep me in the loop on this.
Clayton
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pheenixx
Oct 28, 2004, 8:40 PM
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In reply to: An RC.com party would be pretty sweet. but the question is, how would we know who everyone is in order to get together to climb? Any suggestions?
In reply to: OK everyone from rc.com wear a fleece jacket, a BLACK one. so we can identify each other.
...and who won't be wearing black..?? :?
I won't and have been trying to find other colors in Ice Wear (which now exist). I'm bored with looking like city-folk or working in a morg.
Got another idea....I have a Rockclimbing.Com sticker and it looks like the perfect pattern to make some sort of *Flags* or *Banners*. Does anyone have access to print a few on some fabric or plastic water-proof fabric..?? We could cut and attach them to a pole and stick into the ice where we are climbing... comments..?? :P
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sharpie
Oct 28, 2004, 8:48 PM
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How about moving this conversation over to the Ice Fest thread...that way everyone from the site that is going can be in on the skinny...Ouray is a GREAT place for beginners...Come on join the fun over here:
http://www.rockclimbing.com/...iewtopic.php?t=48602
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