Banks/Vantage Conditions

[Skatan]

With the warmer temps does anyone think the ice will still be up and climable this weekend? Hoping it would be worth the drive.

[DirtyHarry]

Dreamin'

[chrisr]

not a chance.

[Alasdair]

no

[chrisr]

The drive north to Banff is only a couple more hours and conditions there are awesome, check out the post by JoshK. I was there last week too and I have to say it was the best 4 days of ice climbing I've ever had. Gib wall is good too. Copper was in last week but the warmer temps may have changed that. Good luck.

[Alex]

"you never know til you go"

[Alasdair]

Your kidding right? With highs in the 40s all week, and lows in the mid thirties go right ahead and make the drive. I personally would choose not to waste the gas and do something else instead.

[TrogdortheBurninator]

It has actually stayed near freezing in vantage all week. 33 right now.

 

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/weather/recentweatherdata.aspx?id=1987

 

Web cam still shows snow on the ground. Granted, the forecast predicts that whatever residual cold air still remains on the east side should dissipate by the weekend, then temps will probably crawl into the forties.

[dbb]

There was so much thick ice on the roadsides of alpental that I bet there will still be climbing there this weekend. I bet fuggs will be in too, just very wet. It doesn't rain much there, so my guess is this won't melt out with the temps they've seen:

 

 

[Skatan]

Thanks for the info. I'll probably go to Gib Wall or Mission. They are only one more hour driving. I haven't climbed at Banks or Vantage. I'll have to make the run for it next cold spell. Copper was in great shape 2 weeks ago, should still be ok.

[gyselinck]

Your kidding right? With highs in the 40s all week, and lows in the mid thirties go right ahead and make the drive. I personally would choose not to waste the gas and do something else instead.

 

Vantage will still be "in", definately. There is always dry rock too, but why climb rock when theres ice to be had. The wetness will help get more shit in.

[Dru]

 

Are you placing a screw at knee level here, or what?

[JoshK]

If you are in Idaho, I wouldn't waste your time going to Vantage. On the drive back last night it was raining (at times very hard) and foggy for the entire drive through WA including that area. I can't imagine it would be much good, but who the hell knows, it may be great.

[Paul_detrick]

Nice try, sounds like a troll to me. Its been raining here the last two days and allmost all the snow has melted. If theres ice it will be crap. might take a drive tomorow I have the day off.

[pup_on_the_mountain]

Fuggs falls was pouring wet today. You could

probably climb the central portion of the

bottom curtain without getting terribly soaked.

Everywhere else, it was loooking like a

real waterfall. I wanted to try it still (on TR),

but my friend said I'll have to duct

tape an umbrella to her helmet for her

to climb it .

 

It was not raining when we were there,

but I was in my t-shirt too. I've already

spent the money on gas, and would've to

say not worth the drive.

Wait you must, for the cold next spell .

 

Here are a couple of pics:

 

Bottom curtain:

 

 

Top curtain:

 

 

 

 

Here's what is left of Frenchman falls (as seen

from the road):

 

[kurthicks]

those still look surprisingly good considering the weather this week.