colorado

COLORADO ICE

Kolo"rad"o is is really more than just another state. Being split in half by the Rocky Mountains makes this state a definite stop for all climbers eventually. There is more climbing than one person could ever do. A relatively high population density makes climbing here strange though. The problem is that almost every single person in the state is using the outdoors. Most of the backcountry stuff even sees crowds. The ice in the more popular areas can be so hacked up that it is more like climbing a pegboard in the gym than the ice I am accustomed to. Still the high number of quality routes brings me back year after year.

Winter is when Kolo"rad"o is at its best. The ice climbing and skiing is phenomenal. I started climbing here in the late 80's. I was at the 1st Ouray Ice Festival in 1992 but abandoned festivals after the second one. I have climbed at so many areas that I can't even remember where some of the photos are even from. By the time all the photos from all the trips are assimilated there should be a good deal of information here.

I would like for someone to clue me in on this snowshoeing thing. Its almost funny to pass all the folks walking on packed trails in snow shoes. I always wonder what they think when we pass them with our big packs and no footwear other than our mountaineering boots. The high number of folks that I see doing this makes me wonder about how smart your average outdoor enthusiast really is. Snow shoes have their time and place but the packed trails of R.M.N.P. and other popular areas. Snow shoes are for walking through deep fresh snow. Snow cat trails, packed out ice climbing trails, and other well used areas are not the place. You just look dumb, even to a backwater hillbilly like me.

A LITTLE BOULDERING IN BOULDER CANYON