For decades, Ouray has attracted a handful of hard-core climbers with designs on the towering climbs sprinkled throughout the San Juan range. Overflow from the town's water reservoir, perched on the rim of Uncompahgre Gorge, formed irresistible 100-foot frozen columns, overhangs, and chandeliers each winter. In 1994, volunteers began running sprinklers along the mile-long rim, creating a behemoth of ice that today features 60 climbing routes. Anywhere else, a climber would probably have to hike through several miles of knee-deep snow to find a decent frozen waterfall. At Ouray Ice Park you step out of the truck and climb.
Beginners have enough to think about without having to worry about that.
But I'm not completely sold until we begin gearing up, and I notice he's missing most of the toes on his left foot. Ouray also has world-class instructors, and that's key, because when you're clinging to frozen stalactites 87 feet off the ground, you want a teacher who's seen it all. But I'm not completely sold until we begin gearing up, and I notice he's missing most of the toes on his left foot. I got trapped by the worst blizzard in Colorado history. I spent the night on Longs Peak, then crawled ten miles to my car.