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Base Camp
Up
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- Statistics:
- Date Hiked: March 8, 2009
- Miles Hiked: 1.0 (Estimate)
- Elevation Gain: 300' (Estimate)
- Hiking Partner(s): Jeff
Shafer
- Routes: WI3-4
- Description:
- I hadn't been out ice climbing in a month, and it had been even longer
for Jeff. We decided to check out Vail (CO) since I hadn't been
there this year and Jeff had never climbed there. We hiked up to
the Rigid Designator and Fang before traversing over to the Spiral
Staircase. I led this climb a couple of years ago in late season
and didn't think it was too bad since the ice was beat out and plastic.
Conditions were a little different for us this year as the ice wasn't as
beat out and steeper than it had formed in previous years.
- After bringing Jeff up to clean the route, we set up a
top rope and made several more runs before heading back to Highlands
Ranch (CO). We arrived early and were climbing by 8:30 am;
however, by 10:00 the masses started to arrive. We had a lovely
hike back under I-70 to our vehicle where the temperature was in the mid
40's. After gearing down, Jeff surprised me with a beer he had
secretly stashed in the snow before we left.
- Maps:
- Photographs:
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