Any ice forming?

Post by **Wes** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 11:56 pm

There is a solid flow at torrent, easily enough for TR, probably leadable by someone that knows their shit. Not very long, maybe 40 feet or so, but it looks fun/interesting. The cone is probably up to 45 or so feet now, and growing.

Post by **mike_anderson** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:50 am

Be careful what you wish for: The 2010 Kentucky Ice Survey....

The Nada Tunnel Death trap...do you thing the NFS would mind if we climbed it?

The tunnel itself had several icicles growing in it, and the rest of Gray's Branch had several flows. I did nut hike up to the Military Wall, etc.

Here's a dagger way up yonder at Roadside:

This is the most complete ice climb I saw. It is on the west side of the highway right as you enter Torrent.

This is the cave between the Solar Collector and Gold Coast. It's got about ten more feet to go. All of Coal Bank hollow was covered in ice flows that are substantial, but not quite "in" yet.

Here's the Cold, err, I mean Gold Coast:

This is the waterfall at the end of the Bruise Brothers Wall that Rick posted above:

It looks pretty good from the side, but upon closer inspection, it's quite wet and thin...it's totally detached from the rock at the top.

Finally, one of the best looking lines is the waterfall next to the Library wall. It get's shade all day and has plenty of flow. If it doesn't rain, this thing might fatten up in a week or two.

I think I'll go bouldering next weekend....

Post by **Clevis Hitch** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:26 am

i know of some secret bouldering places. looked good but a little hard for me. Plus you gotta cross the creek

Post by **John E** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:29 am

mike_a_lafontaine wrote:OK, ice climbing in Pikeville was a rousing success! Turned out the top pitch of our flow was about 90' by itself, and my 60m rope was barely enough. Found suitable enough trees for three solid anchors, and even though I long ago sold my climbing axes, turns out my alpine axes worked very well. My 55 cm axe wasn't too much different than my old ice tool, though my longer axe was a bit unwieldy and good for probing existing holds, but not very good at driving new ones. The ice was a perfect density for climbing, too, hard enough that is supported my points, but not so hard that it ever took more than one or two good front points to drive my crampons in.

Awesome day! Hoping to get out again before it gets into the 40's and 50's by next weekend!

Do you think it'll still be climbable this coming weekend? I might dig my ice gear out of the attic if it is.

Anyone find any other climbable ice?

Post by **mike_a_lafontaine** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:02 am

John E wrote:
mike_a_lafontaine wrote:OK, ice climbing in Pikeville was a rousing success! Turned out the top pitch of our flow was about 90' by itself, and my 60m rope was barely enough. Found suitable enough trees for three solid anchors, and even though I long ago sold my climbing axes, turns out my alpine axes worked very well. My 55 cm axe wasn't too much different than my old ice tool, though my longer axe was a bit unwieldy and good for probing existing holds, but not very good at driving new ones. The ice was a perfect density for climbing, too, hard enough that is supported my points, but not so hard that it ever took more than one or two good front points to drive my crampons in.

Awesome day! Hoping to get out again before it gets into the 40's and 50's by next weekend!
Do you think it'll still be climbable this coming weekend? I might dig my ice gear out of the attic if it is.

Anyone find any other climbable ice?

Not sure if it will be. Temps in the 50s could melt the top. Right now it is the thickest it has been, and we're hoping to hit it one last time tomorrow afternoon, providing my anchors are still there. I left me anchors up thinking that nobody would bushwack up to that spot because it was a 1/4 mile very steep (steep enough that I wore my crampons to get up) trudge to the ledge where the anchors were, but then yesterday I noticed someone else climbing the same column! I'm really hoping they didn't snake my anchors, because it was a real bitch to set them up! Anyway, tomorrow it is supposed to get around 40, which shouldn't do much to the column in such a short time, but by Friday afternoon I'll have a better idea how they will hold up after a few warm days. By Friday, though it is forcast to be warm and rainy, not an ice columns best friend!

Post by **BVD** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:38 pm

I have been driving by this for the past week or so, but looks like someone already beat me to it.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/22226213/detail.html

Post by **ahab** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 7:55 pm

disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing? geez, ice climbing really is dangerous.

Post by **Clevis Hitch** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:19 pm

walking the streets is dangerous enough. I can't imagine dodging bullets whole climbing!

Post by **mike_a_lafontaine** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:17 pm

OK, this is supposed to be a public link to the photo album. Last time I tried this it only linked to the first picture, hopefully better results this time!

These were taken at the tallest column (about 75 feet) of three. Good, hard ice about 2 feet thick and 10 feet wide. Wonderful stuff!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4 ... be79cf83d8

Post by **mike_a_lafontaine** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 11:24 pm

ahab wrote:disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing? geez, ice climbing really is dangerous.

Too bad they left their car at the bottom. Next person to do this, just have someone drop you off, then when the cops come, tell them to come on up and get you! Then walk off the other side!