2018 was the year I participated in High Altitude Mountaineering School with the CMC and as part of the curriculum we spent a weekend ice climbing in Ouray Colorado.

This was my first time ice climbing and I fell in love immediately! I even climbed a route with no tools and won a prized antique ice screw as a result! We had too much fun bonding in the hot tubs at the hotel and over drinks and dinner in town afterwards. We opted to climb a second day too and I’m glad we did! Two days climbing several different routes in different areas of the park for my first time made for a memorable first experience and I walked away with amazing friends, new and old! Not to mention a new obsession with ice climbing (and maybe Ouray too)!

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Support the Ice Park:

In early 2021 at the end of the season, the Ouray Ice Park was dealt a devastating blow: 12,000 pounds of rockfall spontaneously fell from the cliffs above the most iconic entrance into the Park, the Trestle, which accesses one of the most popular parts of the Park, the Schoolroom. The rockfall also took out their water supply line that feeds the ice farming infrastructure to the south end of the Park. Because of this, 70% of their ice climbing routes are now offline. 

As a small non-profit, Ouray Ice Park, Inc., was forced to pony up more than $50,000 to replace the bridge and the water supply. A massive project, urgent timeline in order to complete prior to next season’s opening, and a very large bill to pay without means. 

Luckily, the ice climbing community showed up and supported their GoFundMe campaign in enormous proportions, enabling them to increase for a stretch goal and necessary park renovations. 

Without these repairs, their 2022 operating season and the world-renowned Ouray Ice Festival and Competition will be in jeopardy. I’m elated the community stepped up to collectively help our beloved Ice Park. 

There’s still time to donate to their GoFundMe campaign or support the park directly. 

https://ourayicepark.com/‍