Trip Report
Ice climbing in Joe's Valley, Ouray, Silverton, and Cody South Fork - January 2013

by BMcC
Thursday March 14, 2013 2:22pm
Took a wintery road trip and had a great time climbing moderate ice in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming with various partners joining me at different times.

Earlier this year, Ed Hartouni provided an info-packed trip report on what he, Rob Yang, and I climbed above the South Fork of the Shoshone River near Cody, Wyoming ( http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Cody-South-Fork-Ice-January-20-26-2013/t11831n.html ).

What follows are some additional pics of scenery and ice, mostly preceding Ed's arrival, but with some overlap. And since we repeated 3 of the routes I had climbed last year, there's also some overlap with pics I took last year with slightly different conditions ( http://www.supertopo.com/tr/An-ice-climbing-mini-safari-part-two-Cody-and-Hyalite-1-12-22-12/t11348n.html ).

My trip began with my chauffeuring one of my kids back to school in southern Oregon after the Christmas holidays. Not the most direct route home to Livermore, but it still made perfect sense to head a bit eastward:

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My approximate route to and from southern Oregon - courtesy of googlem...
My approximate route to and from southern Oregon - courtesy of googlemaps.
Credit: BMcC
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Nice views of Shasta and wildlife from Interstate 5:

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Mt. Shasta (1/6/13).
Mt. Shasta (1/6/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Dragon - a bit north of Yreka, CA.
Dragon - a bit north of Yreka, CA.
Credit: BMcC
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Seemed pretty cold at minus 1 degree fahrenheit when I awoke at a rest stop - little did I realize that it would be even colder in Ouray and Joe's Valley, and then much warmer (not even dipping below freezing in Cody).

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Sunrise from north of Winnemucca, NV.
Sunrise from north of Winnemucca, NV.
Credit: BMcC
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As planned, Peter met me in Castle Dale, UT, for our visit to Joe's Valley.

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CCC Falls - the best ice (the uppermost pitch) is not visible ...
CCC Falls - the best ice (the uppermost pitch) is not visible in this pic (1//8/13).
Credit: BMcC
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The best bit of CCC Falls (1/8/13).
The best bit of CCC Falls (1/8/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Pillar behind CCC (1/8/13).
Pillar behind CCC (1/8/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Peter cruising (1/8/13).
Peter cruising (1/8/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Unfortunately, while third-classing down to take another lap, Peter took a rib and muscle-bruising fall, colliding with a tree. BITD, the football coach would ask him, are you hurt or injured? Not sure... I took couple of quick laps on top rope. His additional lap convinced us that it was time to call it a rest and recovery day, look at ice, and head to Ouray.

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Wolfenstein (AKA Melty Way) was dripping and looked discontinu...
Wolfenstein (AKA Melty Way) was dripping and looked discontinuous in the mid-day sun (1/8/13).
Credit: BMcC
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The coal-fired Hunter Power Station - coal power is big in Utah (1...
The coal-fired Hunter Power Station - coal power is big in Utah (1/8/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Took a day to tour and check out routes from the road - and to assess the 'hurt or injured' situation.

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The Ribbon didn't look fat and easy (1/9/13).
The Ribbon didn't look fat and easy (1/9/13).
Credit: BMcC
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The Ribbon (up Camp Bird Mine Road, just out of Ouray) was not fat and easy like it was last year for Ed, Frank, and me ( http://www.supertopo.com/tr/An-ice-climbing-safari-part-one-the-Ames-Ice-Hose-Ourays-Ribbon-and-Tellurides-Bridal-Veil-Falls-1-2-11-12/t11347n.html ). The San Juan Mountain Guides (less than rosy) reports for the Ames Ice Hose and Bridal Veil Falls convinced me it wasn't worth the drive to see them.

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Senator Gulch Falls wasn't as fat as when I'd climbed it several years...
Senator Gulch Falls wasn't as fat as when I'd climbed it several years ago, but looked good (1/9/13).
Credit: BMcC
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En route to Silverton, drove by Horsetail Falls and Bear Creek Falls - the former looked good (seems pretty consistent, though it can get snow-loaded) and the latter looked sun-rotted - pics later in this TR.

Backing down the partially packed snow on the road to the Stairway to Heaven, I blew it and slid the left rear of my Honda Pilot into deep snow in the inside-edge ditch. Crap. Digging, pushing, and trying to pull it out with an already trashed rope and a Subara were all unsuccessful. No cell service, but the locals in the Subaru sent us a tow truck from Silverton. $200. Dang. Also, with the efforts expended digging and pushing, Peter got feedback regarding 'hurt or injured'. Bummer.

Stairway to Heaven and the Whore House Hoses looked good, but we were just looking (pics later in this TR). BTW - park and walk up the road to check out the climbs, but park and then hike the riverbank to access the climbs. Getting down the cliff below the road to the river and then up the other side to 'shorten' the approach to the Stairway to Heaven could be ugly. Getting ones vehicle stuck would be ugly, too.

Returned to Ouray for a soak at the Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs.

The next day, while Peter walked about Ouray, deciding to truncate his trip and head home, I did some fun laps on easy ice in the ice park with a climber from upstate New York. And the next crew of partners (Frank and Loren Baker, and Travis Miranda) arrived for the ice fest and some out-of-the park climbing.

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Belayed and taught beginners at the Kids' Wall while my newly arrived ...
Belayed and taught beginners at the Kids' Wall while my newly arrived partners took various clinics (1/13/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Convenient post-climbing therapy a few steps from our room...
Convenient post-climbing therapy a few steps from our room...
Credit: BMcC
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Frank in the best tub - the highest tub (closest to the hot spring...
Frank in the best tub - the highest tub (closest to the hot spring) is too hot, the lowest pair (closest to our room) weren't hot enough, but this one was just right.
Credit: BMcC
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Serendipity: during a break at the Kids' Wall, Barry Stevenson asked me a few questions about the ice park for the excellent video he was making on the ice park ( http://vimeo.com/57924628 ).

On the Monday after the ice fest wrapped up, we did an 'instant crowd' ascent of Horsetail Falls as a party of 4. It's a fun route, not too far from town, and has an easy and relatively short approach and descent.

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Bear Creek Falls with climbers - a couple of years ago Frank and I cli...
Bear Creek Falls with climbers - a couple of years ago Frank and I climbed Horsetail Falls and then walked over to Bear Creek Falls to climb up and out (the bridge and road are just above this pic).
Credit: BMcC
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The ice on Horsetail Falls was excellent and was the perfect first mul...
The ice on Horsetail Falls was excellent and was the perfect first multi-pitch WI 4 route for Loren and Travis to follow (except for the temps: minus 2 when we started and plus 1 at the end of the day).
Credit: BMcC
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Travis approaching the 1st belay (1/14/13). Where I had just e...
Travis approaching the 1st belay (1/14/13). Where I had just experienced the screaming barfies for the 1st time in decades, he's smiling.
Credit: BMcC
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Easy 2nd pitch with another pitch and a half above that...
Easy 2nd pitch with another pitch and a half above that...
Credit: BMcC
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Final pitch (pic by Travis Miranda with my camera).
Final pitch (pic by Travis Miranda with my camera).
Credit: BMcC
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Happy guys about to rappel back to our packs at the base of the route....
Happy guys about to rappel back to our packs at the base of the route. Bear Creek Falls in the distant background.
Credit: BMcC
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Loren back at the base of Horsetail Falls. Soloist trailing 2 ropes is...
Loren back at the base of Horsetail Falls. Soloist trailing 2 ropes is just visible above the steep ice on the 1st pitch.
Credit: BMcC
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On the next day, Frank and I drove over to Silverton to climb the Stairway to Heaven. However, temps dipped to minus 17 fahrenheit during the drive and were minus 7 at the trailhead. Having climbed Horsetail Falls the previous day with subzero temps, we revised our plans and returned to the ice park to find and climb with Loren and Travis. And, small world, Barry Stevenson and MacKenzie, his assistant, arrived to take more 'footage' for the video he was making.

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Videographer Barry Stevenson and his assistant getting ready to shoot ...
Videographer Barry Stevenson and his assistant getting ready to shoot Travis Miranda pitching a rope for Barry's "Ice" video.
Credit: BMcC
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And we took a few laps on the hooked-out, heavily traveled Pick O' the Vic - steep, too:

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Frank on the Pick O' the Vic (1/15/13).
Frank on the Pick O' the Vic (1/15/13).
Credit: BMcC
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On Wednesday, Frank and I took another go at the ice in Silverton - it was his last day before he was to head home.

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The Stairway to Heaven looked great (pic from 1/15/13, the day bef...
The Stairway to Heaven looked great (pic from 1/15/13, the day before).
Credit: BMcC
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Outward Bound hotel in the foreground and the Stairway to Heaven  furt...
Outward Bound hotel in the foreground and the Stairway to Heaven further away.
Credit: BMcC
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Geared up and started out on snowshoes. Tedious. Snow drifts in the creek bed. Really tedious. Déjà vu - Frank and I had wallowed up to and climbed the Stairway to Heaven 2 years ago. Late start and headlamp descent. Fun WI 4 route, but a lot of effort to get to the route with the conditions we had then. Too tedious. Change of plans: Whore House Hoses (some WI 5) with its much shorter approach. Yay!

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Whore House Hoses.
Whore House Hoses.
Credit: BMcC
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Frank's almost to some of the approach ice. Part of the 1st pitch is v...
Frank's almost to some of the approach ice. Part of the 1st pitch is visible up to the left and beyond the old mining excavation in the canyon wall.
Credit: BMcC
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Whore House Hoses 1st pitch (1/16/13).
Whore House Hoses 1st pitch (1/16/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Looking down to my attentive belayer.
Looking down to my attentive belayer.
Credit: BMcC
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Frank coming off the steep and up to the 1st belay.
Frank coming off the steep and up to the 1st belay.
Credit: BMcC
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Last real pitch - the sun looked so inviting.
Last real pitch - the sun looked so inviting.
Credit: BMcC
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Last pitch - there was another possible line to take left of this pic,...
Last pitch - there was another possible line to take left of this pic, but this seemed steeper.
Credit: BMcC
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In the pic, a couple of the screws aren't clipped to a rope. This was because I broke a pick near what seemed to be the crux and, to borrow a tool from Frank, I pulled one of my ropes all of the way up and then dropped an end back down. There was 1 more little pitch below this one that was, perhaps, WI 2+.

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Rapped down to our packs - Frank and I agreed that Whorehouse Hoses wa...
Rapped down to our packs - Frank and I agreed that Whorehouse Hoses was THE best part of our trip.
Credit: BMcC
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Did some laps on top rope in the park the next day, before taking Frank to the airport in Montrose and then heading up to the airport in Grand Junction to pick up Rob Yang.

Rob and I got an early start and dashed up to Joe's Valley to get on the ice as soon as possible. Minus 4 freaking degrees. Drove around and scoped out the area. Still cold. Drove back into Orangeville for some hot chocolate while the air temp climbed some.

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Orangeville convenience story and deli - groceries, fishing tackle, hu...
Orangeville convenience story and deli - groceries, fishing tackle, hunting gear, chalk and bouldering/climbing guidebook. Bouldering crash pads rentals available.
Credit: BMcC
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Our stalling worked. It was a balmy 7 degrees when we left the parking lot to climb CCC Falls. Since I had already led this route earlier on my trip, Rob got the sharp end.

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Rob relaxing on the 1st pitch of CCC Falls (1/18/13).
Rob relaxing on the 1st pitch of CCC Falls (1/18/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Rob topping out on the crux pitch of CCC Falls (1/18/13).
Rob topping out on the crux pitch of CCC Falls (1/18/13).
Credit: BMcC
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We did a few laps of the upper pitch on top rope and then...

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Led the little pillar in the cave and rapped (pic courtesy of Rob ...
Led the little pillar in the cave and rapped (pic courtesy of Rob Yang).
Credit: BMcC
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After rapping and hiking less than a few tens of minutes down and out, we headed down canyon to the Highway to Heaven (AKA Deadbolt). In his guidebook Ice Climbing Utah, David S. Black indicates that the route is up to 3,000' long and WI 4-5. Maybe like ice canyoneering.

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Rob starting up the canyon.
Rob starting up the canyon.
Credit: BMcC
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Rob coming up through a sweet little cave (1/18/13).
Rob coming up through a sweet little cave (1/18/13).
Credit: BMcC
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More 3rd classing.
More 3rd classing.
Credit: BMcC
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The longest pitch of Highway to Heaven (Deadbolt).
The longest pitch of Highway to Heaven (Deadbolt).
Credit: BMcC
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My lead (pic courtesy of Rob Yang - 1/18/13).
My lead (pic courtesy of Rob Yang - 1/18/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Rob coming up...
Rob coming up...
Credit: BMcC
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Rob rapping Highway to Heaven with the moon rising.
Rob rapping Highway to Heaven with the moon rising.
Credit: BMcC
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From what we could see, the conditions on other routes did not seem to warrant staying another day, so we headed out the next morning for Cody, a day earlier than we had originally planned.

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Drove by Utah's Bridal Veil Falls - not too crowded for a Saturday &#4...
Drove by Utah's Bridal Veil Falls - not too crowded for a Saturday (1/19/13).
Credit: BMcC
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The Stairway to Heaven was looking pretty good, too (1/19/13).
The Stairway to Heaven was looking pretty good, too (1/19/13).
Credit: BMcC
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It was almost mid-afternoon when we had stopped to look at Utah's Brid...
It was almost mid-afternoon when we had stopped to look at Utah's Bridal Veil and Stairway to Heaven, so we kept trucking to try to get to Cody before too late in the evening.
Credit: BMcC
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For our 1st route, Rob suggested we climb Cabin Fever (60m WI 4) which would give us access to Wyoming Wave (140m WI 3) and to California Dreaming (60m WI 3). The ice conditions report at the ColdFear website indicated the routes were in condition. Good conditions reported, partner familiar with the approach, and new territory for me - what could go wrong?

Cabin Fever is at the end of the road on the north side of the South Fork - opposite where we would be based in the Flying H bunkhouse after Ed arrived. See Ed's report for the insider scoop on the bunkhouse.

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Rob on the way to Cabin Fever (1//20/13).
Rob on the way to Cabin Fever (1//20/13).
Credit: BMcC
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At this point, the air temp seemed pretty (too) mild and we we...
At this point, the air temp seemed pretty (too) mild and we were getting pretty high above the S Fork. Good news was that ice was coming into view...
Credit: BMcC
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... the approach ice for Cabin Fever with part of the route peaking ov...
... the approach ice for Cabin Fever with part of the route peaking over the top.
Credit: BMcC
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Cabin Fever looking like it had been feverish for too long. Running wi...
Cabin Fever looking like it had been feverish for too long. Running with water and kind of not too safe (1/20/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Cabin Fever wasn't happening for us and, therefore, neither were Wyoming Wave and California Dreaming, since they are accessed via Cabin Fever. So we headed down almost all of the way to the trailhead and then up canyon to check out the Outdoorsman (45m WI 4). Also reported to be in condition.

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Approach ice above a pool of deep, open water.
Approach ice above a pool of deep, open water.
Credit: BMcC
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Rob on the approach ice for the Outdoorsman.
Rob on the approach ice for the Outdoorsman.
Credit: BMcC
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The Outdoorsman didn't look 45m tall and was very anemic compared to i...
The Outdoorsman didn't look 45m tall and was very anemic compared to its pic in Jpsephson's guidebook, Winter Dance
Credit: BMcC
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So the Outdoorsman wasn't happening for Rob and me either. Had done a lot of hiking and a bit of fun 3rd classing, but the routes themselves (on the north side of the South Fork) weren't there for us. Did I mention that the air temps were mildly warm?

Had some time before Ed's flight was to arrive so we took a drive to find the Flying H Ranch bunkhouse where we would be staying.

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The Moratorium (100m WI 4+).
The Moratorium (100m WI 4+).
Credit: BMcC
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South Fork critters.
South Fork critters.
Credit: BMcC
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Returned to Cody and got Ed from the airport late on Sunday (20th). Most of the rest of the trip has been detailed in Ed's trip report ( http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Cody-South-Fork-Ice-January-20-26-2013/t11831n.html ), so I'll just post a few pics ...

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We chose High on Boulder (1560m WI 4) for our 1st route (1/21/13).
We chose High on Boulder (1560m WI 4) for our 1st route (1/21/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Rob took the lead on the steep middle pitch (1/21/13).
Rob took the lead on the steep middle pitch (1/21/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Ed followed in style.
Ed followed in style.
Credit: BMcC
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This pitch (the 3rd) looked much thinner this year than when I...
This pitch (the 3rd) looked much thinner this year than when I led the route last year. Rob wanted the middle pitch, so I got the 1st and 3rd (1/21/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Led up and over rather than going up the 3rd pitch directly from below...
Led up and over rather than going up the 3rd pitch directly from below as I was able to do last year (pic by Rob Yang with my camera - 1/21/13).
Credit: BMcC
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A bit higher (pic courtesy of Rob Yang with my camera - 1/21/13).
A bit higher (pic courtesy of Rob Yang with my camera - 1/21/13).
Credit: BMcC
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... and up (pic courtesy of Rob Yang - 1/21/13).
... and up (pic courtesy of Rob Yang - 1/21/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Ed cruising Bozo's Revenge (100m WI 3+) (1/22/13).
Ed cruising Bozo's Revenge (100m WI 3+) (1/22/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Mean Green (300m WI 5). Other climbers suggested that the crux...
Mean Green (300m WI 5). Other climbers suggested that the crux pitch was rotten or missing - 1//23/13). Any truth in the rumor? Rob led 1st and 3rd pitches. The 2nd was mine. The 4th (crux) was hosing...
Credit: BMcC
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Crux pitch on Mean Green had a lot of water coursing over and through ...
Crux pitch on Mean Green had a lot of water coursing over and through it - not appealing - 1/23/13.
Credit: BMcC
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Our Thursday (24th) climb of Duck Soup (100m WI 3) turned out to be the last climb of the trip for 3 of us together because Ed was having some knee issues.

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Duck Soup (1/24/13).
Duck Soup (1/24/13).
Credit: BMcC
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Nice view of the South Fork of the Shoshone River valley and the Cabin...
Nice view of the South Fork of the Shoshone River valley and the Cabin Creek area.
Credit: BMcC
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On our last day after clearing out of the bunkhouse and saying good bye to Dean (the caretaker/manager) and Molly (his pooch), we headed over to Deer Creek to check on the condition of Too Cold to Fire. Ed joined me walking up the creek to the base of the ice.

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Deer Creek approach to Too Cold to Fire.
Deer Creek approach to Too Cold to Fire.
Credit: BMcC
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Too Cold to Fire looking fat (fatter than last year when I tagged ...
Too Cold to Fire looking fat (fatter than last year when I tagged along on it with 2 guys from CO) - 1/25/13.
Credit: BMcC
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Rob on the 3rd class approach to Too Cold to Fire - 1/25/13.
Rob on the 3rd class approach to Too Cold to Fire - 1/25/13.
Credit: BMcC
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Rob soloing up the next approach bit.
Rob soloing up the next approach bit.
Credit: BMcC
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Rob and the start of the real climbing on Too Cold to Fire  - 1/25/13.
Rob and the start of the real climbing on Too Cold to Fire - 1/25/13.
Credit: BMcC
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Rob almost topped out - 1/25/13.
Rob almost topped out - 1/25/13.
Credit: BMcC
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The view looking down my rap ropes.
The view looking down my rap ropes.
Credit: BMcC
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Drove back to Cody after rapping Too Cold to Fire - a very nice little...
Drove back to Cody after rapping Too Cold to Fire - a very nice little climb with which to end Ed and Rob's part of the trip.
Credit: BMcC
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After delivering Ed and Rob to the airport, I went back to the end of the S Fork Road to check out a couple of climbs that some other climbers recommended - Smoked Turkey (100m WI 3 to 5, depending on conditions and the final pitch chosen) and Grandma's Chicken (110m WI 4).

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Approach pitch on Smoked Turkey - 1/26//13.
Approach pitch on Smoked Turkey - 1/26//13.
Credit: BMcC
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An even steeper and longer approach pitch - fun stuff!
An even steeper and longer approach pitch - fun stuff!
Credit: BMcC
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Last pitch of Smoked Turkey - I chose Chicken Wing (50m WI 3) ...
Last pitch of Smoked Turkey - I chose Chicken Wing (50m WI 3) on the left rather than the Drumstick (50m WI 5) on the right - 1/26/13.
Credit: BMcC
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The Chicken Wing ice was thinner than what's in the guidebook, but ver...
The Chicken Wing ice was thinner than what's in the guidebook, but very nicely plastic. Grandma's Chicken would have to wait until the next day.
Credit: BMcC
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Went back the next day with snow falling and more wintery weather predicted to check out Grandma's Chicken.

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The start of Grandma's Chicken is obvious.
The start of Grandma's Chicken is obvious.
Credit: BMcC
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Took a wrong turn up higher and ended up a gully over from the last pitch on the climb. Rapped back down and, in deteriorating conditions, checked another possible approach - got it for the next time I'm in Cody...

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The WI 4 pitch on Grandma's Chicken - 1/27/13
The WI 4 pitch on Grandma's Chicken - 1/27/13
Credit: BMcC
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Several raps and I was down to my snow-covered pack and scrambling to ...
Several raps and I was down to my snow-covered pack and scrambling to get down to the river and out before dark...
Credit: BMcC
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Back to my mini-RV just before dark.
Back to my mini-RV just before dark.
Credit: BMcC
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Happy?
Happy?
Credit: BMcC
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The weather service predicted worsening weather for several days and served to convince me to begin my journey homeward (stopping to climb in Lee Vining and ski at Mammoth, of course). Though I didn't climb the crux on Grandma's Chicken this trip, my ice adventures shared with various partners had been great fun. I was and am happy and thankful that my partners were able to drive or fly out and meet me to climb. Thanks Peter, Frank, Loren, Travis, Rob, and Ed - it was fun climbing and hanging with you guys!

  Trip Report Views: 5,224
BMcC
About the Author
BMcC is a trad climber from Livermore.

Comments
philo

climber
  Mar 14, 2013 - 02:52pm PT
I really enjoyed this TR. Way to kick ice and take names. TFPU great pics.
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Mar 14, 2013 - 03:11pm PT
great tr. Have you ever climbed Skylight, in Colorado?
BMcC

Trad climber
Livermore
Author's Reply  Mar 14, 2013 - 03:33pm PT
Thanks!

10b4me - had the pleasure of climbing Skylight and other routes up Camp Bird Mine Road on a couple of trips (back in February 1993 and again in January 2011). Fun stuff there.
Brian in SLC

Social climber
Salt Lake City, UT
  Mar 14, 2013 - 03:47pm PT
Double swing through Joes! Nice.

Inspired by Gravity in Huntington Canyon is super if you get back that way. Bit hidden from the road but great pitch. Take care crossing the creek.
tuolumne_tradster

Trad climber
Leading Edge of North American Plate
  Mar 14, 2013 - 04:14pm PT
Fabulous TR Bill...luv the photo of Frank simmering his chestnuts
mtnyoung

Trad climber
Twain Harte, California
  Mar 14, 2013 - 04:31pm PT
Nice trip report.

But you'll never, never get me to go on a trip like that - too damn cold for this California raised boy.

Brrrrr!!
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
  Mar 14, 2013 - 05:20pm PT
Great report. Gonna have to check out some Utah ice one of these days, but hard to drive twice as far as Cody or Montana to get it.
David Knopp

Trad climber
CA
  Mar 14, 2013 - 05:37pm PT
what a great trip Bruce-you are a lucky guy, as we all are!
Synchronicity

Trad climber
British Columbia, Canada
  Mar 14, 2013 - 06:17pm PT
Awesome trip and great pictures, little bit of frozen envy right here :)
Some Random Guy

climber
  Mar 14, 2013 - 07:35pm PT
tcob!

u know how it's done :)
westhegimp

Social climber
granada hills
  Mar 14, 2013 - 08:21pm PT
Awesome TR! Nice pics. Thank you for the winter stoke.

Wes
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
  Mar 14, 2013 - 09:31pm PT
Sweet!
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
  Mar 14, 2013 - 09:47pm PT
Excellent, really excellent TR! Come back this way for some rock.
rhyang

climber
SJC
  Mar 15, 2013 - 01:03am PT
Climbing with Bill is great. He always has stoke and enthusiasm to spare !

And I have to admit, drinking hot cocoa while waiting for the temp to rise above 0F may have been my idea :)
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
  Mar 15, 2013 - 01:44am PT
always great to get out and go play with you BMcC!

mooser

Trad climber
seattle
  Mar 15, 2013 - 10:39am PT
I want to go to there...

Great TR! Thanks!
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  Mar 15, 2013 - 01:27pm PT
Fabulous TR!

Makes me want to suit up and swing.

Thanks for the inspiration!
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Mar 15, 2013 - 05:59pm PT
Looks like a great trip!!
Brian Biega

climber
Truckee, CA
  Mar 15, 2013 - 08:19pm PT
Hi BMcC-

Wow! What a trip and intro to some new places. Thanks for bringing us along.

Fun stuff and thanks again!

Cheers, Brian
BMcC

Trad climber
Livermore
Author's Reply  Mar 16, 2013 - 02:50am PT
Thanks, everyone, for your comments and suggestions!

There is so much more to climb in the Cody South Fork area... and then there's Montana in which I've only visited Hyalite for a few days last year... and then there's so much more I have yet to do in Canada and Alaska.

Seems like the ice season is too short, but that must mean the rock season is so much longer :-)

As always, it was great fun climbing with and sharing icy adventures with friends.

Wishing you all excellent and safe climbing adventures!


mike m

Trad climber
black hills
  Jan 27, 2014 - 06:28pm PT
Looks like you better wait to goto Valdez a little http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/27/22465404-warm-temps-blamed-for-massive-avalanche-that-cut-off-alaskan-town?lite
BMcC

Trad climber
Livermore
Author's Reply  Jan 30, 2014 - 06:52pm PT
Mike M - thanks for the Valdez avi link/update. Not heading to Alaska for several months. Currently at the BMC International Winter Meet in Scotland. Great hosts here at the meet. Fun climbs so far and great evening presentations. Impressive weather - hoping to get in more climbing tomorrow before the forecast 55-75 mph winds (with gusts to 90) arrive. Cheers!

fat-n-sassy

Social climber
San Francity, CA
  Jan 30, 2014 - 07:17pm PT
Nice Cave!
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
  May 19, 2019 - 06:37pm PT
WooHoo! yEEHA! THIS TRIP REPORT IS TOP NOTCH ! !
 what a ride!
~0,0~Amazing pictures
 Direct text
 some Thrill not much frill
One of the most under-responded to Great Trip reports.

It sure goes good with a beer in the middle of May

This TR is top notch !

(I MISS ICE CLIMBING !)
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