Ouray Ice Fest 2011

Crystal and I ventured down south for the annual Ouray Ice climbing festival this past weekend.  Ouray is this quant little town in the San Juan Mountains that has a box canyon within walking distance to downtown.  In winter the water is diverted from an aquaduct over the canyon walls forming an amazing amount of ice climbing.  I had been to the festival a couple years past but this year was more interesting, probably because I have more ice experience, but mostly because a few friends decided to make the trek out there with us.  Jason, BV and his girlfriend Ryann joined us.  Climbing can be a little challenging during the Ice Fest due to crowds but since we had a larger group we were able to claim a couple routes, climb them, and then trade within our group when we were done.  Ironically you don’t come to the festival if you are looking to do a ton of climbing and avoid crowds.   Nope.  You go to the festival to take advantage of the ridiculously inexpensive clinics taught by people you only meet in climbing magazines, the free gear demos (tools, crampons, jackets, and pretty much anything else), and the slide shows/movie premiers.  Crystal and I took an Ice technique classes, mine with Heidi Weirtz, and hers with Kim Reynolds.  I also took a Leading Ice clinic with Mark Wilford.  I feel like I took a lot away from these clinics despite ice climbing for 4 seasons.  I would highly recommend them, especially since they only run $40 for 3 hours.  This is pretty cheap compared to what guides are charging throughout CO.  As an aside Ouray now has two breweries!!  Who would've thought.  The Ouray Brewery is the more prominent one on main st.  The beer is good, the atmosphere eh, the server bitchy, but the growlers only $10.  Then there is the Ourayle House Brewery a couple steps off of Main where the beer is hit or miss, but the bar tender is friendly, and the atmosphere is "hole in the wall eclectic".  Anyway, we had fun!  Role the pictures...

There were lots of venders present with plenty of gear available to demo.  You could literally show up with nothing and get outfitted for the day.

Just to show how busy this place gets during the fest.

This is the Competition route.  There is a climber on it at the very bottom of the ice pillar.  The two guys hanging out are actually at the mid-point of the route where contestants change ropes to avoid ropedrag on this ridiculously long route.

Jason was a little nervous on the snowy drive home.  Not sure if it was my driving or all the sharp objects in the trunk.