Ouray Ice Climbing and Skiing

We go to Ouray, CO, every winter for some good, outdoor winter fun - ice climbing and cross-country skiing.  We arrived here almost 2 weeks ago and I, armed with my new ice climbing tools and crampons, was ready to slay the ice!

But that was not to be.  On our first day out ice climbing, I discovered very quickly that my ice tools were not quite what I had expected.  The curve of them is very similar to the Petzl Nomic, which is why I purchased them.  I tried to get a pair of Nomics, but they've been recalled, so I settled for second best...or so I thought.  It was a nightmare climbing with them - rarely did a swing produce a could stick and I felt insecure the whole time.  To top it off, my new crampons are mono-points, so I felt even more insecure.

So, back to the drawing board.  We went skiing instead.

Top of the Pines ski area, Ridgway, CO



Kate

San Jacinto Mountains

Kate leading the way

After a bit of research and some advice from friends way better at ice climbing than I am, I decided to demo a pair of Grivel Quantum Tech ice tools.  They were pretty awesome.

Me with the new ice tools, getting ready to give 'em a go

Love them!

Kate getting ready to climb

Kate sending

The bridge and dreaded ladder for those who don't climb out or rappel in

Uncompahgre River - it was rising

We were on the opposite side and the river was frozen when we started - we had to move to this side or we would be marooned

I know the face shield looks dorky, but dangit, I've never had a bloody face

Me still loving the tools, but temps were dropping...

Kate

Kate on her last pitch

Temps were in the mid to low 20s, so we did four pitches and called it a day.  Kate lost the coin toss and had to climb the ladder out while I climbed my last pitch out.

We are headed back to Joshua Tree in a few days and hope to get another climbing day as well as some skiing in.  We'll be back in a few weeks to spend 3 more weeks in Ouray and hopefully I will have my new tools by then!