tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798Fri, 01 Nov 2024 08:59:25 +0000ice climbingourayouray ice parksan juan mountain guidesBackcountry SkiingCamp Bird RoadFirst GulleyPowderSan Juan MountainsSilvertonStairway to HeavenTraining for climbingWeehawkenWhorehouse HosesrainiertrainingWhere the roads end, where the earth drops off, where waterfalls freeze, where the air is thin, thats where you'll find us and thats where these adventures take place.http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)Blogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-3538576814207222534Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:06:00 +00002013-01-13T16:06:34.117-07:00 For many people the Ouray Ice Park and front country ice climbing is the extent of their ice climbing horizons. However, for the first time this year among the many terrific seminars offered at the Ouray Ice Festival, participants had the chance to hone their skills on backcountry ice in a seminar run by athlete and super guide Angela Hawse and Me. Climbers in the http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2013/01/for-many-people-ouray-ice-park-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-1081287877107085919Sun, 23 Dec 2012 20:51:00 +00002012-12-23T13:51:15.236-07:00 Ice Park opening day is always has a festive feel to it. There isn't really any official fanfare but climbers from all over the state show up and bring with them a distinct enthusiasm. They are excited for another season with miles of farmed ice climbs dripping down from the western rim of the Uncompahgre Gorge. The shady canyon with over 200 routes farmed from motel shower heads, the ice http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/12/ouray-ice-park-opening-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-3889935244735998279Sat, 22 Dec 2012 01:32:00 +00002012-12-21T18:33:07.934-07:00I spent the last four days climbing with Rob from NY. Despite some difficulties from the weather and high avalanche danger in many places, we managed to cover a fair amount of ground and climb some terrific pitches. It seems that this is good year for our high flow backcountry waterfall climbs as opposed to the climbs that form from seepage. Rob and I climbed Lower Ames Falls, Senators Gulch, http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/12/ouray-ice-climbing-tour.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-8465568629851445513Sun, 11 Nov 2012 19:36:00 +00002012-11-11T12:36:32.855-07:00 I had never ice climbed in WA before. Honestly, spending so much time ice climbing in CO and NH, it was hard not to have a bit of a snobby attitude about it. Getting out with Lee the other day gave me a whole new appreciation for the possibilities in WA. We climbed a route known as the Cosley-Houston on Colfax peak. Colfax is a sub peak of Mount Baker with a summit at http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/11/colfax-peak-cosley-houston-route.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-2279022376283556854Sun, 01 Jul 2012 04:05:00 +00002012-06-30T22:05:17.443-06:00Liberty Ridge 6/25-29   http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/06/liberty-ridge-625-29.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-7645881003496884183Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:46:00 +00002012-04-30T13:46:44.558-06:00 I recently enjoyed the chance to explore Red Rock Canyon outside Las Vegas with Elena. We consistently marveled at how despite being so close to a huge city Red Rock feels so far away both physically and mentally from the busy city of neon lights. Together, Elena and I explored the rock climbing in the canyons of Red Rock. The park consists of a 13-mile scenic drive. The climbing http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/04/rock-climbing-in-red-rock-las-vegas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-1978677174039468337Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:24:00 +00002012-04-23T11:24:57.399-06:00 Often referred to as the best rock climb in Colorado the Scenic Cruise is stacked with incredible pitches of climbing. It is amazing how many hand cracks are on this 2000' route! Because the route is one of the most famous in the Black Canyon, it receives considerable traffic (which by standards outside the Black is not much) which means the that much of the loose http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/04/scenic-cruise.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-2525868564363765120Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:40:00 +00002012-04-19T15:41:59.538-06:00 Only 2 hours from our office in Ouray, CO, The Black Canyon is home to some of the most adventurous, not to mention spectacular, rock climbing in the lower 48. The Black is one of those places that it is easy to fall in love with. The giant canyon drops, in some places up to 2,000 feet, down to the Gunnison River. The canyon is all but invisible until you round a corner to hike down into it http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/04/black-canyon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-1004752160250992255Sat, 07 Apr 2012 17:51:00 +00002012-04-07T11:52:11.865-06:00 Ouray is, of course, world famous for its ice climbing. When spring time comes and you put the ice tools away you shouldn't stop thinking of Ouray. Have you ever sat in the hot springs looking up at the cliffs above? There are hundreds of rock climbs sprinkled throughout Ouray from single pitch sport climbs to long adventurous multi-pitch routes. Imagine a couple days of rock climbing http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/04/ouray-rocks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-8146402495041177265Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:11:00 +00002012-03-29T10:11:39.803-06:00Let me share two secrets about the Colorado's San Juans with you. Secret number 1: The ice is great in the late fall. Secret number 2: Spring is the time to ski! The spring melt freeze changes the shapes of the snow crystals. It turns them into rounds that skiers call "corn". This corn makes for creamy, smooth, and fast skiing. The consistency of the snow means that you can ski a bit http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/03/san-juan-spring-skiing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-3511922014082680261Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:47:00 +00002012-03-14T18:50:07.123-06:00There is an imposing group of mountains that sit on the horizon as you drive from Ouray through Ridgway to Telluride. This group of mountains are the most rugged peaks in the Rocky Mountain sub range, the San Juans. This is the Sneffles range. Named for Mount Sneffels a 14k peak. While I have often glimpsed these peaks on my way back form getting groceries in Montrose, I hade never visited them http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/03/sneffles-range-reconnoiter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-4374275712042616891Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:43:00 +00002012-02-23T09:43:47.282-07:00 So it has been a while since we were last able to post simply because we have been so busy taking people from all over the country ice climbing all over the San Juans. From the Ice Park, to Camp Bird Road, to Telluride, to Silverton.  It is such a joy sharing ice climbing with climbers of all levels. Whether it is teaching people to plant their front points solidly into the ice for http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/02/still-kickin-and-swingin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-6783055651280256683Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:39:00 +00002012-02-17T19:39:46.502-07:00I got to spend yesterday climbing with Marista and John from OH. Though they had never climbed in the Ouray back country before they had done a bunch of climbing out east and in the Ice Park. I was thrilled to show these two the gems that lay outside the Ice Park. We managed to tick off two classic Ouray lines with wildly different character. The First, Dexter Slabs, Was a wide open flow http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/02/twofer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-6688905598166985737Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:18:00 +00002012-02-13T16:18:07.328-07:00 Wow, what a crazy month! I have been fortunate to climb with a number of awesome folks from all over the country within and outside the ice park. I had the opportunity to teach two people to lead ice climbs, I guided Bridal Veil Falls, and made the ascent of an obscure trad mixed line on Camp Bird road. I admit, I have been so busy I have been slacking on the blog posting, I am sorry. Now http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/02/keeping-it-real-in-ouray.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-2792179294116111731Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:40:00 +00002012-01-24T22:40:10.629-07:00 I recently got to spend four days climbing with Keegan from MN. Keegan and I climbed Denali together this past spring. This fall he told me he wanted to dial in his ice skills so he came to Ouray to do it. In the process, Keegan and I got to climb some of the San Juan classics, the routes that make this place special. The first day we hung out in the ice park working on ice technique, http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/01/ouray-ice-trip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-3973404657576230086Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:28:00 +00002012-01-19T21:28:45.726-07:00 People often ask me if I climb in the Ice Park on my days off. Of course! While I love the steep ice lines in the park It is the mixed lines that really hold my attention. These routes are pumpy and often tenuous affairs that push you to climb with maximum efficiency. People don't often think of projecting and winter climbing in the same vein but projecting mixed climbs can be a really fun http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/01/guides-day-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-7619223493024626357Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:19:00 +00002012-01-14T16:39:17.987-07:00 Low on the route  I heard it was terrifyingly run out. I heard the rock was loose and rotten. I heard I would grovel up the chimneys. I also heard it was a classic San Juan mixed climb. It didn't really make sense so I figured I should try and climb Bird Brain Boulevard. It was everything I had heard, especially the classic part. Bird Brain is among the top few routes in the San Juanshttp://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/01/bird-brain-boulevard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-2503066244666600582Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:16:00 +00002012-01-09T18:22:36.022-07:00 It seems like a long way to go to climb frozen waterfalls, but judging by the grins on these guys faces, it was well worth it. I got to spend 2 days climbing with Brian and Walt from Toledo.  Both of them had done some ice climbing before and Brian recently climbed Everest and completed his seventh summit. Both wanted to improve their climbing skills and came to Ouray to do it. We http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2012/01/toledo-oh-to-ouray-co.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-3262070304224412609Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:21:00 +00002011-12-30T14:21:40.250-07:00 Swingin'! The warm weather has made for "hero" ice conditions in the ice park. The softened, but not overly melting ice makes of endless one-swing-stick-bliss! If you were ever thinking of getting on a particularly hard ice climbing now is the time while the ice is as user friendly as ever. Kickin'! I have had the pleasure of exploring ice technique with a number of wonderful folks http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/12/dispatch-from-ouray-ice-park.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-4420557882586947391Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:04:00 +00002011-12-27T15:13:39.904-07:00 Future San Juan Mountain Guide? Every year at San Juan Mountain Guides we run a number of free kids climbing clinics at the Ice Park. It is pretty remarkable to be able to offer young kids the chance to try out a sport once reserved only for adults. We are the only people in the world I know of who have a fleet of specially modified ice tools for kids to try ice climbing. Guideshttp://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/12/future-san-juan-mountain-guide-every.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-952616400757595676Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +00002011-12-20T17:19:18.409-07:00We all eagerly awaited like children in front of the case at the local chocolate shop Mouse's Chocolates as we watched the ice park grow faster and faster as the weather got cold. Our anticipation built with the ice in the park until finally... it opened. I spent two days climbing in the Ouray Ice Park with Russell form CO. He had never tried ice climbing before but wanted to expand his http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/12/ouray-ice-park-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-6658737859288145590Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:57:00 +00002011-12-08T08:11:00.582-07:00 Come and get some!  Yesterday Matt and I went to check out the local classic Whorehouse Hoses. So named because of its proximity to what was a brothel back in the mining days. While the red light district is gone, the ice remains and it is terrific. The amazing first pitch To be honest I have stayed away from Whorehouse since I climbed it two years ago. While it wasn't that hard, I http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/12/silvertons-whorehouse-hoses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-3801589839562751577Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:57:00 +00002011-11-22T16:57:47.127-07:00 Awesome! It is hard to believe it is only November. Fellow guides, Matt, Mark and I headed up into Commodore Basin on the hunt for early season powder skiing. What we found was snow that exceeded our expectations in both quality and quantity. We cut several beautiful laps through the November fluff exclaiming to each other at the base of each run.   We skied a bit off http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/11/san-juan-powder-skiing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-2767708512456822846Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:48:00 +00002011-11-21T08:59:30.411-07:00 I climb in Ouray a lot. Probably more than any other single destination in the country. I live her. I get into a routine and get stronger. Early season means South Mineral Creek. Then Eureka starts to form. Next I head up to Camp Bird Road for the ice climbs. They start thin and get fat and I get stronger. And I repeat the process all winter with forays to Telluride mixed in. I love it. It ishttp://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/11/off-beaten-path.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101165150275892798.post-767219421870718200Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:16:00 +00002011-11-16T07:33:02.044-07:00  I spent the last three days climbing early season ice with Stefan form New Brunswick Canada. Stefan, in town for a geology conference, gave me a new appreciation of the geology of the San Juans and its mining history. Together we explored the awesome back country ice climbs that grace the cliffs that once lured miners for silver and gold. When it is frozen, water behaves like http://inthehillsandontherocks.blogspot.com/2011/11/spent-last-three-days-climbing-early.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eitan Green)0