South Fork Ice (part 2 of 3)

After the previoius day's scouting we knew the already thin ice took a brutal beating from the rain so we followed "someone that knows someone that knows someone in the know"s advice and walked up Deer Creek hoping that Too Cold to Fire would be in.... and it wasn't. At least the firs two pitches weren't. The money pitch looks incredible though! Cant wait to go back and climb it! Brunckhorst's book mentioned an arch in the slot canyon past the ice so we walked up to it for some photos. Deer Creek is a crazy little slot canyon. I hesitantly compare it to Ouray but Deer Creek is 5 times as tall. There are some bizarre, contrasting rock formations in it. One minute its completely round and directly adjacent are sharp, geometric shapes/faces. Tried to capture the effect with some photos but I am clearly not a photographer. We spied some sport climbs while we were hiking up the canyon so we switched gears and went rock climbing. We took turns leading the two routes and left a top rope set-up over one for an extra lap. When life gives you lemons, go clip bolts! We didnt get to have a fire this night, it was raining.

No hurry to leave the Chateau de Shoshone and enter the rain!

Too Cold To Fire

The lower pitches are a torrent of water.

Notice the curve but then the sharp arete? 

Theres the Arch! Definitely worth the walk.

A perfect bird nest/nook.

Some interesting Calcite(?) striations. 

This photo was taken on the way back out; scroll up to see the difference in ice! A big chunk fell down while were hiking.

A beautiful cathedral dome ceiling with an ice smear in the back; somebody has bolts in it somewhere, I just know it.

One of two silly little sport climbs we climbed in our hiking shoes (in the rain).

                                     

Elk crossing. The field to the right had ~100 Elk, ~100 Mule deer, ~100 Antelope and ~100 Big Horn sheep!

                                     

Is he giving me the stink eye? Why I otta...

                                    

Camp essentials: cards, beer and canned oysters!