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Base Camp
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- Statistics:
- Date Hiked: March 24, 2007
- Miles Hiked: 2.0 (Estimate)
- Elevation Gain: 500' (Estimate)
- Hiking Partner(s): Brian Kooeinga
- Routes: WI4 (6 Pitches)
- Description:
- As we pulled out of Denver around 6:30, the weather didn't look
promising with a lot of raining. We decided to continue with our
plans to head into Rocky Mountain National Park to go ice climbing at
Hidden Falls. A short time past Lyons, the rain turned to snow and
we became a bit more optimistic. Once again we failed to read much
about the approach and ended up bushwhacking a bit before finally making
it to the falls.
- Since Brian didn't have an opportunity to lead on our last outing to
Lincoln Falls, he took the sharp end of the rope. The bottom third
of the falls is easy climbing. After this it becomes more steep for
the middle third and then is fairly stiff near the top. At the base
of the vertical ice Brian had second thoughts but continued on.
Although the ice was beaten out, it was still fairly difficult climbing.
Brian did an awesome job leading the pitch and brought me up after setting
an anchor on a couple trees at the top of Hidden Falls.
- We rappelled down and then just had fun the rest of the day top
roping. A group set up a second rope and we switched off for a while
which allowed us to get a couple of different lines in. It snowed
heavily all day, but the temperature was warm. We certainly got wet,
but had a good day ice climbing. Brian was fairly disappointed when
we got back to the parking lot and no one was around to see him all geared
up (helmet still on), but he got over it quickly once we opened a Dogfish
Head Indian Brown Ale.
- After climbing, Brian and I went back to Denver and cleaned up for the
NCAA hockey west regional game at the Pepsi Center between Michigan and
North Dakota. I graduated from UND and Brian is from Michigan.
We were actually five minutes late and missed four goals in that time.
I thought the Fighting Sioux were going to get killed, but they came back
and won 8 to 5. Tonight, they beat the Minnesota Gophers 3 to 2 in
overtime to head back to the Frozen Four for the third straight year.
They haven't had a national championship since 2000, so maybe they can
upset Boston College and win this year.
- Maps:
- Photographs:
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