Silverplume Falls

Saturday morning we decided to stay close and dink around on Silverplume Falls.  Jeremy was at my place by 6:15am.  We had my pickup loaded and stopped by Fred’s to see if him and Andrea were still on schedule.  They were loading up there truck as we pulled up.  They were bringing their skis and planning on hitting a resort after we climbed.  We shoved out ahead of them only to run into Early ski traffic.  We stopped off in Idaho Springs for a cup of coffee and to kill some time for Fred and Andrea to catch up.  We left and finished the short drive to Silverplume. and Jumped out to get ready.  Fred and Andrea pulled up and we heading up to the falls a few minutes later.  We started by going up the rock but soon opted to stop and put on our crampons and walk the creek.  This is a little game we ice climbers always play on the approach, How far can we get without putting on crampons and on the way out, how far can we get before we take them off.  Once the crampons were on it was less than a 10 Minute walk up the frozen creek.   It’s an interesting setting because the creek bed is littered with old mining artifacts, pipes, rail track, old mining cars...  We soon made it to the bottom of the falls and saw how thin it was.  But we were there, we were alone, and the Wind was dying down.  There was a steady spindrift of sand and pebbles while we set up but it soon died off too.

 Jeremy ran the first lead up the Most difficult section of Ice.  When he got to the Top I lowered him and pulled the rope.  I needed to get a lead on Silverplume this year… 

I lead it without incident and was pretty happy about it. 

Andrea lead the slightly easier right line but it was her first lead ever.  In fact, hiking into our climb last weekend an exact quote from Andrea was “I don’t have any interest in leading ice” to instantly volunteering to lead one week later .  Jeremy Lead all the routes including two mixed lines placing cams and a Nut that blew while he was cleaning the route.  Fred didn’t do any leading this day.  He did solo both ice lines and seemed to be content.  We got out of there and enjoyd some microbrews at Tommyknockers...

Brekenridge!!!!

Well I heading to Breck with some friends Friday night to meet some other friends.  I worked on skiing most of the day, I feel like Ive improved and I cant wait to get back out.  Saturday night we watched some football and I crashed early...  Got up early, rallied the troops, and we headed to Lincoln falls.

The hike to Lincoln falls is a short one, but its nasty.  Its all uphill and you have the choice between ice covered rocks or frontpointing slipery Icey slopes.  Fred likens it to the hike up to Table mountain.  We got up there and began the Climb.  THe Climb was mostly just for exercise but the Climb was WAY different than the last time I was there.  It was BIG and FAT.  and we had a blast.  Mike Crossman was with us climbing verticle ice for his 2nd time ever.  He did well and we had a blast.  We got out of there pretty early and Missed trafic on the way home.

Mike getting some tips on climbing vertical ice.

Me watching Mike Climb.

Mike topping out on the first pitch and a half of Mt. Lincon.

Andrea Killing it on the steep section near the top of this pitch.

Mike and I on the way out.  Andrea and Fred finishing up with a few reps on this pitch.

It was the best weekend i have had in a long time.  I cant wait to do it again.  Great people and great friends manke a great place to live even greater.

EVEN MORE interstate climbing

Headed out early with some good friend Fred, Scott and Jeremy. THey picked me up at 6am and we headed for 10-mile canyon. We were there shortly after first light, we quickly got our things together and began the short hike. THe approach was about as easy as it gets maybe a 20 minute hike, its a good warm up for the climb.

Fred and Jeremy each decided to take a lead and hang a Rope to do some laps. Fred and I were kind of considering this a training day for the Cody Ice Fest in a little over a month and we wanted to get some laps in and get a little more comfortable on verticle ice. Fred too the left line.

And Jeremy took the right.

We got in a bunch of sweet climbs and some sick mixed climbing.  We all had a blast and it was a training day but one of the best days of Ice climbing I have ever had.

Heres Scott Cleaning, after MANY laps on this Ice Fall..

The ride home took about 3 times longer than usual because of the snow but it was such a good PERFECT day, none of us could complain.  Epic day in Officers Gulch!  My hands and forearms are still cramping up.