Southwest Colorado Ice Climbing
Overview
South Mineral Creek is a dirt road, located off Hwy 550 (between Ouray and Silverton, western Colorado), about 2 miles north of Silverton. There are several ice climbs located along this dirt road, most are located about 3 to 5 miles away from the road 550. The Mineral Creek dirt road was open and snow plowed later during the day we went there (November 16th), but typically the road is closed during the winter season, and you have to hike in. I think that it was snowplowed for hunters, and when hunting season will be over, the road will close.It is still early in the season, so not all ice was formed yet. We played a little bit on Sundance, the only climb located on the north walls (facing south). All other ice climbs are on the southern walls. Most of the ice falls were not completely formed yet. And although Sundance is facing south, it is protected by a cliff from a direct sun.
External Links
The Denver Post ReportNorth San Juan Ice Climbing Blog
Weather
Guide book
The guide book to all ice climbs is Colorado Ice by Jack Roberts, volume 1.Colorado Ice
