Ouray Ice Park, Colorado
Overview
Friendly Buck in the town
Ouray is the site of some of the best ice climbing in Colorado. Although there are some long climbs in the area, Ouray is primarily known for its short, difficult routes. The Camp Bird area and the Ouray Ice Park attract more ice climbers than anywhere else in Colorado. Ouray is an excellent place to learn the sport because of its many types of routes.
Approaches in Ouray are generally short and easy, especially the Ice Park is very safe. The main obstacle is the extremely high avalanche danger, which can close the Camp Bird Road and even Red Mountain Pass (the main road going sough of Ouray towards Silverton).
Slip Slidin' Away is one of the easier and short climbs off the Camp Bird Road, located in the area called Skylight. Hiking along the Camp Bird Road is an interesting experience - you will see climbers everywhere, and the scenery is very spectacular.
Getting There
Camp Bird Road
illustration of the location
Camp Bird Road is a very popular area to ice climb. The road up to Camp Bird can be very icy, so please check the conditions, and have chains ready in your car. The road may also be closed when avalanche danger is high. If the road is closed - do not attempt to walk, ski, or snowshoe along it.
The Camp Bird Road is typically open to the Senator Gulch area, about 4.5 miles above the Ouray Ice Park. There is a pullout for parking - it can fit maybe 10 to 15 cars, and the parking space can get full on weekends, especially if the weather is nice. Approach to all climbs is along the road, which is typically snowplowed, or the snow is leveled by snowmobiles.
The Skylight Area is second only to the Ouray Ice Park in the popularity due to a concentration of high-quality climbs and ease of access. It is about 10-15 minutes walk up the road from the parking at the Senator Gulch area. The area is pretty obvious - there are climbs along this road, located right next to each other, many mixed climbs with obvious bolts, sometimes ropes left hanging down (climbers working on their route often leave a rope in place). You will most likely see many other climbers here.
The Slip Slidin' Away is pretty obvious from the road. The climb is located on your right side, first you will pass Poser's Lounge, a half-cave with many difficult mixed climbs, then several short climbs, Skylight is very easy to identify - the first pitch starts inside a narrow small chimney. There are several climbs from here towards our Slip Slidin' Away, some do not form every year. Slip Slidin' Away is about 40 meters higher up the road from Skylight. It is one of the more popular climbs in the area, and the ice forms here usually early in the season.
You have to hike about 25 meters up the slope to the base of the climb, this section can be icy, and will most likely require crampons. Guides usually rope up their clients when accessing the base of the climb, but I have done it without a rope twice, not too steep.
 Illustration of access (purple line) and 1st pitch (green line) |  Climb as seen from the road |
Route Description Slip Slidin' Away
Rating: WI4Length: 90 meters
Pitches: 2
This two pitch climb has a more difficult variation to the first pitch (on the left) that is very thin. Otherwise, simply climb on the easier ice to the right and either toprope the variation and/or continue to the short WI3 pitch above.
I have seen photos of this climb from later in the season, and obviously the ice was much thicker. The 2nd pitch was not even worth climbing it in late November of 2010. The ice was not so great, dinner plates and larger plates of ice were coming off during our climb.
December 2011 provided better conditions, the ice was great, and we were able to climb all the way to the tree anchors at the end of the 2nd pitch.
Descent: rappel from trees (there was a rappel sling placed 11/10 in a good condition, December 2011 rappel anchors good). You do need two 60 meter ropes. We brought only 70 meter rope and it was too short to rap down.
 |  French Technique |  Broken Crampon |  |  Approach |
 |  |  My turn |  Climbing boss |  Smoking? |
Essential Gear
Broken Crampon
My gear=camera
Two 60 meter ropes
Screws, slings, harness, helmet, consider eye protection
May consider extra webbing, rappel rings for security reasons (this climb is often climbed during the season, so the anchors should be good, but you never know).
And whatever you like to ice climb in - a thermos bottle with hot tea is always a good idea:)
Definitively good crampons! We had a little epic on our climb. The leader's right crampon broke off while on a steep section of an ice. He just anchored himself to an ice tool, then placed a screw it, and lowered himself to "steal" my crampon to finish his lead.
External Links
Mountain Project DescriptionColorado Ice, volume 1; by Jack Roberts This book provides descriptions of the ice climbs in the area, including Slip Slidin' Away.
Information from Denver Post
Ouray Mountain Sports This is a great place to get your gear, find out the ice conditions, or get your stuff fixed. Very well supplied and very knowledgeable staff.
Something to keep you warm
Weather
