builttospill - Jan 27, 2010 5:02 pm - Hasn't voted
Above Pitch 5
Hey Dow,
The description you give for the first five pitches is spot-on. Some of the upper pitches (6+7) occasionally come in, and at one time pitches 8-10 were being farmed. I believe pitch 7 is usually the last to fully form. Clearly, the upper pitches are not being farmed this year, but I believe they were in during 2008-2009. But most people I know consider the five pitches you've listed to be the "standard" route....anything above that is just icing on the cake.
Dow Williams - Jan 27, 2010 5:15 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Above Pitch 5
Thanks man. I didn't know if this was just a bad year or not. I had never been back in Provo Canyon and assumed we were going to gain more elevation than that. Cheers
builttospill - Jan 29, 2010 12:38 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Above Pitch 5
By the way, I meant to tell you regarding the dearth of ice during your visit.....the Wasatch Range typically experiences something of a warm snap in early January (it's happened like 5 of the last 6 years I've been here), which hammers the ice in Provo Canyon due to the lower elevation. Provo Canyon isn't the Canadian Rockies by any stretch.....there's not nearly the volume of ice, but you also came at a somewhat inopportune time. Still, it's good to see you got on some stuff (I suspect you got most of the worthwhile climbs done anyway).
Dow Williams - Jan 29, 2010 10:09 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Above Pitch 5
It was better than Joe's Valley last Christmas, was way to early there as well. Donorcicle was good stuff, but not much else. No question a bit spoiled, but exploring new ice is always good stuff no matter the conditions, cheers.
builttospill - Jan 27, 2010 5:02 pm - Hasn't voted
Above Pitch 5Hey Dow,
The description you give for the first five pitches is spot-on. Some of the upper pitches (6+7) occasionally come in, and at one time pitches 8-10 were being farmed. I believe pitch 7 is usually the last to fully form. Clearly, the upper pitches are not being farmed this year, but I believe they were in during 2008-2009. But most people I know consider the five pitches you've listed to be the "standard" route....anything above that is just icing on the cake.
Dow Williams - Jan 27, 2010 5:15 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Above Pitch 5Thanks man. I didn't know if this was just a bad year or not. I had never been back in Provo Canyon and assumed we were going to gain more elevation than that. Cheers
builttospill - Jan 29, 2010 12:38 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Above Pitch 5By the way, I meant to tell you regarding the dearth of ice during your visit.....the Wasatch Range typically experiences something of a warm snap in early January (it's happened like 5 of the last 6 years I've been here), which hammers the ice in Provo Canyon due to the lower elevation. Provo Canyon isn't the Canadian Rockies by any stretch.....there's not nearly the volume of ice, but you also came at a somewhat inopportune time. Still, it's good to see you got on some stuff (I suspect you got most of the worthwhile climbs done anyway).
Dow Williams - Jan 29, 2010 10:09 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Above Pitch 5It was better than Joe's Valley last Christmas, was way to early there as well. Donorcicle was good stuff, but not much else. No question a bit spoiled, but exploring new ice is always good stuff no matter the conditions, cheers.