AlpineMonkey Posted November 22, 2008 Posted November 22, 2008 It is hard to believe, but last year one week from now (on 11/28/07) was the opening day of my Washington Ice Climbing season. This year it hasen't got that cold yet, but the season is getting near and I'm getting jittery. This is a call for all WA ice climbers who find ice this year to post it up. The more you know, the more I know, the more we all know and the more we all climb. Cheers to a good season. Quote
kevino Posted November 22, 2008 Posted November 22, 2008 Thanksgiving last year I climbed ice in north bend and ellensburg on the same day. Heres to hoping for cold weather soon. Quote
AlpineMonkey Posted December 15, 2008 Author Posted December 15, 2008 Any condition reports out there? I drove through Lworth during my lunch break today and there is nada down low. Any ellensburg people been on Umptanum yet? I'd be down for some after work ice cragging. What about the Punchbowl at Banks? Quote
jshamster Posted December 16, 2008 Posted December 16, 2008 Found this today about an hour drive from Seattle. Not climbable yet, but by Friday should be good to go if it doesn't get too much more snow dumped on it. Cheers. Jimbo Quote
Alex Posted December 16, 2008 Posted December 16, 2008 (edited) ... Edited December 16, 2008 by Alex Quote
mkporwit Posted December 16, 2008 Posted December 16, 2008 Anyone had a look-see at Hubba Hubba by any chance? Quote
jpark42 Posted December 16, 2008 Posted December 16, 2008 We were up there sunday and it wasn't in Quote
jshamster Posted December 16, 2008 Posted December 16, 2008 Definitely not Alpental. Mtn. Loop Hwy area. Quote
Alex Posted December 17, 2008 Posted December 17, 2008 I've updated my conditions page: http://www.wastateice.net/Conditions.aspx Some pictures of my outing today are here: http://www.wastateice.net/SnoqualmieDec08.htm It may look a little grim, but I'm heading out tomorrow morning as any time spent farting around on the ice in the cold beats time sitting in my office, doing work. Quote
kevino Posted December 17, 2008 Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) I got laid off from my seasonal job in redmond, so I went back to ellensburg to work and climb. Anyone want to help me send my project? [img:left]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/DSCN0129.JPG[/img] Here is an idea on height: the road is the bottom left whiteness [img: left]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/500/medium/DSCN0132.JPG[/img] This is about 15 minutes from my house. I'll be checking on other local areas in the next couple days. Edited December 17, 2008 by kevino Quote
Alex Posted December 17, 2008 Posted December 17, 2008 CascadeClimber, AlpineDave, and myself were all out at Black Ice this morning having a fun time on CYA and "Unnamed" to the right of CYA. That stuff is in and totally leadable. Pics later. Quote
rat Posted December 17, 2008 Posted December 17, 2008 worthleavin' public service announcement: like alpinemonkey said, as of 12/16 there wasn't much straightup ice climbing in the icicle. plenty to do if you don't mind mixing it up. start to hubba hubba was formed but snowcovered above that. drury and the pencil are coming along but drury still had some holes and was looking wet. the drip was not close to touching. chandelier was thick. hidden lake climbs were coming along but appeared to have some holes as of 12/15. approx. 4" of snow since this morning and still coming down. be prepared to dig if you're heading this way. Quote
AlpineMonkey Posted December 18, 2008 Author Posted December 18, 2008 Drove up entiat yesterday on another lunch break. Nothing in up there eaither. Tyee looks huge, but not quite touching down yet and it is on private property, in full view of many houses. Quote
dbb Posted December 18, 2008 Posted December 18, 2008 CascadeClimber & I climbed the ice route above the black ice crag this morning. Great climbing! About 20 feet of mixed ground to reach the ice (M4/5 WI4). If you had a new #4 or #5 camalot you could protect the crux really well (under the roof). I was able to get some small cams, and a decent blade out left. If Alex's info is correct, I think this is the first time the climb has been led. It has obviously been TR'd before. We also climbed a second pitch, up and right at WI2. P1 topping out p2 Then we went over to the ironhorse trailhead, and climbed Pax and Ken's route. Approach up the right side of the drainage in the forest. This route is easily visible from the off ramp. p1 WET! Nice pillar. Felt 4- don't forget to start the day off right! Quote
Alex Posted December 18, 2008 Posted December 18, 2008 That p2 of Here Today Gone Tomorrow looks fun! Quote
CascadeClimber Posted December 18, 2008 Posted December 18, 2008 That p2 of Here Today Gone Tomorrow looks fun! It was so fun that my tools wanted to lead it without me, right Dave? Quote
CascadeClimber Posted December 18, 2008 Posted December 18, 2008 (edited) Here are a couple of Dave leading the first pitch of the route above the black ice crag. This is the route that's clearly visible from I-90 when it's in: Edit to add: I believe this is the route called 'CYA' in Washington Ice. For what it's worth. I think there is enough opportunity for gear to protect the mixed section and that it does not need to be bolted. There are several other potential lines there that could use some bolts, but the ice comes in so rarely... Edited December 18, 2008 by CascadeClimber Quote
kevino Posted December 18, 2008 Posted December 18, 2008 As suspected things are little at umptanum are thin. I climbed the drip, only got a handful of solid swings, rest were thin hooks. Heres the actual falls. I tried the right line but the ice was garbage, so I backed off. Quote
Tydog Posted December 18, 2008 Posted December 18, 2008 I am going to be in the area and though my girlfriend and I would stop at umptanum and run some laps on the drip accross from the main flow. Two years ago that was pretty fat with some mixed on the right side that was fun. Looks like temps will be cold for the next couple of days. Wondering if anyone knows if this is growing or not? Quote
wayne Posted December 18, 2008 Posted December 18, 2008 The snow was so deep and dumping (x38), I wasnt comfortable with parking and it wasnt getting plowed either. Maybe tomorrow Quote
Peakpimp Posted December 19, 2008 Posted December 19, 2008 Too bad you didn't hang around Wayne, Mercyful Fate his friend and I hit it up today in a toyota tracel! We got there about 10:30 or so and the road had been plowed. It was dumping, about 6in while we were there but it was fat! Mercyful Fate pimpin the mixed start Quote
spiderman Posted December 19, 2008 Posted December 19, 2008 Does anyone have any info on Vantage and or Banks Lake? Quote
kevino Posted December 19, 2008 Posted December 19, 2008 (edited) I am going to be in the area and though my girlfriend and I would stop at umptanum and run some laps on the drip accross from the main flow. Two years ago that was pretty fat with some mixed on the right side that was fun. Looks like temps will be cold for the next couple of days. Wondering if anyone knows if this is growing or not? Well those photos are from wednesday afternoon. The drip, as you can imagine is fed by groundwater, so until a melt-freeze cycle starts its going to grow slowly. The actually falls will hopefully be growing as the really cold temps continue. oh, and if you do go, please be gentle with the ice. there is not a lot there and it would be really easy to take big swings and knock of lots of chunks of ice down to bare rock. Edited December 19, 2008 by kevino Quote
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