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Base Camp
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- Statistics:
- Date Hiked: March 18, 2006
- Miles Hiked: 1.0 (Estimate)
- Elevation Gain: 300' (Estimate)
- Hiking Partner(s): Doug Shaw
- Routes: WI2 - WI3 (6 Pitches)
- Description:
- After meeting Doug at the rock climbing gym earlier in the week, he
invited me to join him ice climbing. I didn't have a whole lot of
time, so we decided on The Silverplume because of the short approach and
reasonable distance from Highlands Ranch, CO. This trip also allowed
me to try out my new ice tools I bought shortly after my trip to Ouray,
CO, with Brian and Kevin.
- There are three main flows that make up the curtain across the falls.
The one farthest to climbers left was the fattest with the ice getting
thinner as you went to the right. The ice wasn't as hard as in
Ouray, but the tools stuck in the softer ice. We also tried out
a little mixed climbing, but it was only a short section that didn't get
much above M2+ (if that's even a rating, I think it starts at M4).
Throughout the day, we practiced some technique too, like stacking,
turning a hook into a mantel, and the Stein puller.
- Doug peeled off once on the rock ruining an ice screw on his rack, and
I took a chunk of ice in the chin which drew a little blood, but other
than that we just had a good time. We set up two top ropes that were
both bolted to rocks above the ice. There were no other climbers in
the area all day and the scramble to the top was fairly easy with no
problems encountered. The ice faces south, so an early start is
recommended.
- Maps:
- Photographs:
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