14th Annual Southfork Ice Festival

Fred and Andrea and I hit the Road at 3am to head to Cody.  The weather was beautiful and the roads were clear.  Fred drove the first shift and I drove the second.  With The exception of some gas and a quick stop at "Hells Half Acre" it was a nonstop drive.

Hells Half Acre

At 11am we pulled into Cody and it looked like I had never left.  I hadnt been there in almost a year but thats the Beauty of a place like that, it never changes.  We stopped off at Sierra Trading Post and met up with Shawn Gregory.  He was joining us for the climb.  We drove up the South Fork Valley, a place I truely believe to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.

The South Fork Valley

We found the Drainage and we began the Hike.  A relatively easy 30 minutes later we were at Broken Hearts.  Fred lead it and we did a few Laps on a top rope.  The second pitch was right there but for time sake we decided to stick to the first picth.  In Joel Anderson style, I stayed at the top and took some photos from the top of the pitch.

Fred with a nice lead

Shawn topping out

After a few laps, we quickly headed back to town to watch Arron Mulkeys slideshow.  We made it to the auditorium just in time to announce the clinics.  We enjoyed two slide shows, had a few beers and went to bed.  Tomorrow we would go to schoolhouse and try and get up 3 pitches.

The next morning after filling my Thermos at my friend Lydia Thomas's Coffee shop, Beta, we headed out.  We got there what appeared to be second and headed out.  We were nearly to the top when 4 other guys showed up to spoil the fun.  then 4 more showed up to really make it a party.  We ended up just hanging on the 1st pitch and doing some laps.  We still had a blast and it was more about good friends than Ice climbing at this point.  

Andrea Rotz on the steep climb to Schoolhouse.

Joel Anderson on P1 of Schoolhouse

Group Photo (from Left) Shawn Gregory, ("Schoolhouse" in the background), Fred Caloggero, Andrea Rotz, Ben Smith, Dustin Smoot, and Joel Anderson.

Later that night we watched a great slideshow then mingled a bit with some of the climbers I have learned so much from over the years that have become friends.   It was great to see everyone and hear about there climbs.  Then we headed to the Silver Doller.  My Buddy Brad Sperry came down for the night to Hang out.  We had a blast.  I headed out around Midnight cause I was getting up early to climb.  The next morning after seeing where other groups were going, we decided on "Smoked Turkey".  An easy approach with WI 3-5.  After we got out to the Parking lot we thought we followed the directions and a trail but realized whene we were WAY up in a drainage, that is was the wrong drainage.  We were one off.  We followed the tracks of Some other group who got lost.  

I learned 3 Lessons on this Hike:  

1. Never follow footprints to a climb
2. Always carry a map and get some direction
3. Dont make redbull and whiskey your nightcap before a Climb day.

The drive home was unbelievable.  Fred Drove most of the snow time home, we were home around 2am.  I was up at 7 and at work by 8am the following morning.  It was quite a weekend.  

The 14th Annual Southfork Ice Festival ws a success.   I have been coming for years now and it always proves a good time with Good people.