Ouray Ice Park

Ouray Ice Park

Page Type Page Type: Album
Additional Information Image Type(s): Ice Climbing

Ice climbing

Ouray is the capital for ice climbing in USA. It hosts a yearly Ice Climbing Festival, and the town gets flooded with ice climbers from all over the world.
The climbs are on man made ice - pipes with water are brought to the top of the gorge, and sprinkle water overnight. There are hundreds of routes ranging from WI2 to WI6. And you don't need a partner for climbing here - just pick up Ushba ascender in Ouray Mountain Sports, and you are set up for a safe climbing.

The best description of park routes and etiquette is Ouray Ice Park Guide Book. Most people climb here leash less, and if you happen to drop your tool, which can end up on the bottom of the river, there is a help. Ouray Mountain Sports carries a magnetic device, which will help you retrieve your tools.

I am so lucky that I live only 1/2 hr away, and have the opportunity to pick up this wonderful sport. This is my 3rd year of living close by and each year I make frequent visits to the park. I do buy membership, which is not required, but I do enjoy supporting this amazing gorge, park, ice and its ice farmers.

Some Images from the Ice Park

great posture Lower Bridge
Five Fingers area We are #1 WI4
Scottish gullies Popstar WI3
And my turn Sunscreen WI4
School Room School Room
Culminator WI5 Culminator WI5
Thirsty ice climbers Beer drinking boys
My best ice climbing partner Ushba soloist device
Smile man, smile Aye Laddy! more difficult variation
Ach Mon WI4 Ach Mon WI5
South Park Gorge from the top South Park
Tiddywinks WI4 Tiddywinks WI4
Scottish Gullies Scottish Gullies
Alcove Alcove
South Park Gorge South park inside



2012/2013 

2012/13 season started poor - November was very dry and warm, Ice Park had to postponed opening till mid December, and Camp Bird Area did not get much ice in. Later on, conditions excellent...

Competition steel climbing  tower Competition Steel Climbing Tower
Action in the park Action in the park
Lower Bridge Area Lower Bridge Area
Dizzy Curtain WI4 Dizzy Curtain
New Funtier New Funtier
Tic Tac M6 Tic Tac M6
Set up for soloing Set up for soloing
South Park South Park
Ice farming Ice Farming
Lower Bridge area Lower Bridge area

External Links

Ouray Ice Park
Ouray Mountain Sports = best place to rent or buy ice climbing gear. Owner Bill and his assistant Trish are both ice climbers, and great in helping out with renting, ordering, or even fixing your gear.

Comments

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Viewing: 1-2 of 2
icypeak

icypeak - Mar 23, 2010 8:13 pm - Voted 10/10

Ahoj...great album!

Also enjoyed your trip report from Cotopaxi, darn weather! But seemed like a super trip anyway! cheers, Sylva

Liba Kopeckova

Liba Kopeckova - Mar 23, 2010 11:48 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Ahoj...great album!

Ahoj Sylvo, mockrat diky za pozdrav. Jo, Ouray je skvely.... Sorry, I was drinking wine and switched totally into Czech. Thanks for looking at my posts...

Viewing: 1-2 of 2


Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.