cranestyle Posted November 30, 2004 Posted November 30, 2004 (edited) I'm looking to get out for some snow/ice fun in the Portland area. I'm under the impression that there isn't much ice climbing in the area. Am I wrong? If not, what do climbers do out here in the winter? And please don't say hang out at the gym, because I crave fresh air not a sweat sauna. I'm a newbie climber, so cut me a little slack for sounding naive. I miss the climbing I did this summer and need a fix, help me cascade climbers... Edited November 30, 2004 by cranestyle Quote
Kevin_Matlock Posted November 30, 2004 Posted November 30, 2004 Ice is more on the limitted side around here. After a prolonged cold spell the gorge has options. Several spots up on hood can also be made to work. But, based on shear numbers alone, ice climbing simply isn't as commonly done compared to long slogs up snow cover masses are. Don't get me wrong (before I piss off all the ice climbers) there IS some ice, but it's just not as accesible as cascade humps.... THAT'S what many climbers do around here in the winter. Quote
pc Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Go to US Outdoor and ask for a guy named Gavin. He might know of some places to go. Cheers Quote
jaee Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Nope, no ice around here You may want to check the Oregon Cascades forum Quote
ken4ord Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Your right, that doesn't look like ice to me. Looks more like low angle neve. Quote
Kevin_Matlock Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 That's just something he made using a walk-in freezer and garden hose! Quote
Chad_A Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 There's been lots of posts on the ice that runs off of Cooper Spur; I was up there Sunday, and it's in full shape. Brittle, though; damn cold up there. I made sure my tools were REALLY sharp, and they were still shattering ice. At any rate, it's here to be found (I've heard that there's some over in the Wallowas, and some down in Central Oregon, but it's hard to find anyone that want's to talk about it); of course, it's lots of fun to grab a partner, and drive to SLC or Canada, and go somewhere that you don't have to hunt for it; for me, it's kinda nice to take a road trip every once in a while, anyway. My .02 cents worth. Quote
ken4ord Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 Now that is more like it. That looks like ice. Quote
Kevin_Matlock Posted December 1, 2004 Posted December 1, 2004 ...and THIS was made from a leaking hydration bladder on a very cold day. Quote
cranestyle Posted December 2, 2004 Author Posted December 2, 2004 Thanks for the info guys, at least it gives me a place to start. My faith in Portland as the greatest city ever is restored! Quote
shapp Posted December 2, 2004 Posted December 2, 2004 VW4ever, grade V above little strawberry lake outside Pararie City, can nearly see from town with binoculars. Go get it! Quote
swaterfall Posted December 9, 2004 Posted December 9, 2004 Hey Chad nice pic! Send me an email and let me know what you've been up to. Quote
rbw1966 Posted December 9, 2004 Posted December 9, 2004 Its no secret that there is quite a bit of ice in the Wallowas to be had. Its just that its 6+ hours from Portland to get to it. Quote
Chad_A Posted December 16, 2004 Posted December 16, 2004 VW4ever, grade V above little strawberry lake outside Pararie City, can nearly see from town with binoculars. Go get it! Shit, as soon as I have a clue as to where that is, I just might! Quote
shapp Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 North side of strawberry wilderness east of John Day in the red part of the state! about 5 hours from P town Quote
kurthicks Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 this isn't my most recent version, but here you go. ---------------------------------------------------------- Wallowas Hurricane Creek Drainage Note: All climbs mentioned here have huge avalanche danger Falls Creek Falls Elevation: 5,000’ Grade: WI3-5? M 4/5? Length: ~50 ft Approach: about 3/8ths of a mile from the Hurricane Creek trailhead. Follow the sign on a tree that says “Fall Creek Falls.” Couldn’t be more obvious. Alternately, continue on the main trail until you reach the creek and walk up the drainage. Time ~ 10 minutes Unnamed Falls Elevation: About 5,200’ Length: ~35’ Approach: Across the canyon from Falls Creek and up the hill. Slick Rock Canyon Falls Elevation: 5,760’ Grade: WI2 for the first steps, above unknown Length: 2 small steps (15’ each) with what looked like a longer pitch above Approach: about 3 miles from Hurricane Creek trailhead, about 150m from 2nd switchback) Time ~ 1-1.5 hours Wallowa Lake Climbs BC Creek Falls Elevation: About 5,600’ Grade: WI2-3 Length: ? Approach: From the Wallowa Lake TH, take the West Fork Wallowa River trail. At the Chief Joseph Mtn. Junction (0.3 miles), turn right. Follow the trail for 1.2 miles to the falls. Time ~ 30 minutes Boy Scout Falls Elevation: ? Grade: ? Length:? Approach: ? ---------------------------- Central & Eastern Oregon Three Fingered Jack SE Couloir Grade: 45-65 degrees (from Oregon High) Length: 800’ Season: Jan-March. Usually, by the time the trailhead melts out, the route is out of shape. Approach: From the Jack Lake TH, follow the trail to Canyon Creek Meadow. TFJ is obvious. Middle Sister Ice Hose / NE Face Direct Grade: WI 4+ Length: 2 pitches. The rest of the route was 55-60 deg neve to the top. Approach: just to the left of the NE Face route as shown in Oregon High. Paulina Falls Elevation: 6,200’ Grade: WI4-5 ? Length: 100’ Approach: From US 97, drive 6 miles north of La Pine and turn east onto Paulina Lake Rd. Drive 10 miles to the unmarked parking lot. Hike along an old jeep road at the end of the lot. After 0.4 miles, turn left (west) and hike for another .6 miles. Strawberry Lakes The Strawberry Range has excellent ice opportunities. They are spring fed and form every year. Season: ice begins forming in late October at the high elevations and is usually filled in by Christmas. Snow melt throughout the season can form twice the number of climbs but is usually ephemeral at best, thus hard to predict Strawberry Falls Grade: half a dozen routes up to ninety feet mostly pure some mixed. (wood finishes on a few!) Length: 90’ Approach: about 3 miles over pretty moderate terrain. The big issue would be getting your car to the trail head Little Provo Grade: WI4-5 Length: 1 long pitch Approach: the west of the lower lake Honey Pot Elevation: ? Grade: ? Length: ? Approach: East of the upper lake amongst the island of trees The After Image FA: Feb. 1996, who? Elevation: ? Grade: V, WI5+ Length: 120m Approach: drive as far as the county plows, usually to the timber just below McNaughton spring. The After Image is obvious above and south of strawberry lake. Note: “This grade v wi5+ is a serious alpine endeavor. It consists of 120 meters of steep ice in the middle of a 420 meter alpine north face. The overall grade depends on timing. Later in the season when the cave pillar touches down, it’s a bitch to approach, often bad depth hoar. Early season it can be a cruise to get to it but, the overhanging climbing pumps the technical grade.” Camp at the trail head campground or find a bivvy at house rock adjacent little strawberry lake. The crux pillar on “after image” usually does not touch down until the upper sixty meters fills out. This route is best done late in the season. ----------------------------- PDX Area and Gorge Climbs: Ainsworth State Park Grade: WI 4-5 ? Length: 700’ Approach: take I-84 east from Portland to Exit 28 (Bridal Veil), and follow highway 125 for about six miles past Multnomah Falls and Ainsworth State Park entrance. Crown Jewel Elevation: ? Grade: ? Length: ? Approach: ? Sheppard's Dell Elevation: ? Grade: ? Length: ? Approach: ? Mt. Hood Eliot Glacier Moraine Season: October-May Approach: From the Tilly Jane Campground, hike up the Timberline Trail for a mile. Holly Falls Elevation: ? Grade: ? Length: ? Approach: ? Illumination Rock “March Madness” Grade: ? Length: ? Approach: Walk uphill from Timberline Lodge. Ski Bowl Grade: ? Length: ? Approach: to the right of the main ski run at Ski bowl Pete’s Pile Elevation: ~3500’ Grade: WI4+ and up. Most are TR able with bolts at top. Length: Mostly 1 pitch, some 2 pitch Season: They will form when the Gorge does, and stick around a little longer. Approach: a steep 10 minute hike from pull off on Hwy35 to main crag. They are visible from the road. Note: Find a copy of "Portland Rock Climbs" by Tim Olsen ----------------------- Quote
shapp Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 nice work, you must be mark or steve or be in close cahoots with one of these two Quote
shapp Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 Notes on slick rock creek: makes a great scramble in summer, I made it up to dead man lake one day, couple hairy spots Would make a great alpine climb to the top above the lake if you didn't die on the approach. Quote
kurthicks Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 I am neither. Most of that stuff was from posts and various websites. I've got some more stuff at home, but am still looking for more info...pass it along if you've got any. Kurt Quote
shapp Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 Bummer, so have you climbed any of the routes you mentioned in the Strawberries or Eaglecaps?. I can't believe you found that info on the web, what websites for these areas? Quote
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