Jump to content

[TR] Cody, WY - Various Classics 3/1/2015


kevino

Recommended Posts

Trip: Cody, WY - Various Classics

 

Date: 3/1/2015

 

Trip Report:

Ah, the South Fork of Shoshone. Nothing quite like it. David and I first climbed with John, way back in the fall of 2009. He played tour guide on our first trip to Cody: Early Season Carter Mountain Ice

That trip yielded a lot of driving and some ice.

 

Fast forward 4.5 years later: I'm out of school and working full time. David is currently slaving away on night shift. John is traveling the world. Somehow we were able to line up 4 days and rendezvoused at the Double Diamond Ranch and climb some great routes.

 

Day 1: Pillars of the Community, WI4+

John has been talking about this route for as long as I've known him - and for good reason. Imagine our surprise when we got out of the car and saw it in.

 

All smiles.

P3021389.JPG

 

On the left.

P1070791.JPG

 

Yep, still looks steep.

P3021398.JPG

 

We soloed the lower step, so we could fire the upper ice in one pitch.

P3021402.JPG

 

This one was all John.

P3021405.JPG

 

Did I mention it was his first day of ice this season?

P3021423.JPG

 

Send time!

P3021452.JPG

 

Evening light on the hike out.

P1070827.JPG

 

Day 2: The Moratorium, WI 4+

Cold, windy, snowy. Not sure it ever got above 5 degrees that day, and the wind chill was definitely <0.

 

P3031469.JPG

 

Thankfully John was in AK training mode.

DSC02911%25202.JPG

 

My turn to lead...A little more ice than seen in your guidebook!

DSC02920.jpg

 

John and David warming their hands back up.

P1070802.JPG

 

It was a belay jacket kind of day.

P1070806.JPG

 

Boom.

P1070820.JPG

 

When horizontal meets vertical.

P3031473.JPG

 

Cruising up the last bit to the top.

DSC02935%25202.JPG

 

Don't Stress the Sheep.

DSC02950%25202.JPG

 

Day 3: Mean Green

Hoping to get some more vert today, we headed to Mean Green. We found it to be lean and brown. The second pitch pillar looked unappealing in it's current shape so we just TR'd the first pitch.

 

The wind was still blowing, causing some enjoyable spindrift for David.

DSC02966_2.jpg

 

David getting back into the rhythm after a year break of ice climbing.

DSC02974%25202.JPG

 

John getting a taste of the Shoshone.

P3041517.JPG

 

Day 4: Sendero Illuminoso, WI 4

John had to leave to return to parental responsibilities. I've always wanted to climb Sendero so it was an easy choice.

 

So asthetic.

image4.jpg

 

It climbed as good as it looks.

P3051581.JPG

 

Scenic hike out.

P3051601.JPG

 

Double Diamond Ranch

We stayed here throughout our trip. This is their second season in operation with Matt, the owner and his wife running the place. Good rates, clean facilities, great food and lively saloon. If you guys are heading to Cody, we recommend them. Plus, you can't beat a 5 minute drive from your cabin to the ice climb.

 

Double Diamond Ranch

 

Morning view from the bunkhouse.

image7.jpg

 

Night life.

IMG_4422.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 4
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

One for the memory books. This was one of my favorite ice trips ever, due in large part to our stay at Double Diamond X Ranch. Matt and Jenine are some of the best people you'll ever meet, and they have truly developed a special place to stay. A few things:

 

- Matt is a better cook than you. Go for his meals in the lodge, you won't regret it. You'd be hard pressed to find better food in town, plus you skip the 45 minute Wyoming stand-off with wildlife known as the South Fork Road

- You're a five minute drive from any climb in the valley. Big days are easier to pull off, as are slow relaxing ones. Enjoy

- Ask if there are other climbers staying there. Go find them when the day is done and meet-up in the saloon. Swap tall tales, play pool on the antique table, and order a double of Wyoming Whiskey. We ran into another party of 3 from WA. Good times!

 

As we were packing we were already discussing next year's trip to the South Fork and Double Diamond X Ranch. Go there, and tell your friends! Let's help Matt spread the word in the climbing community.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I live in Portland and will either fly through SEA to Billings on Alaska Air or through SLC to Billings on Delta. Price usually dictates which carrier I use.

 

You can fly into Cody but it bumps the price significantly. I'd recommend either flying to Billings (2 hours to Cody; 2:45 to the Ranch) or Bozeman (3:30 to Cody; 4 hours to the Ranch) if you plan on climbing in Hyalite or the Beartooths in addition to Cody.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...