For thousands of years, some of the most incredible ice walls have been forming on the cliffs near Ouray. And for the past 13 years, some of the world’s best climbers have been ascending them during the Ouray Ice Festival.
The 13th annual event concludes today, but since Wednesday the ice climbing community has been filling the town to take part in clinics and competitions.
Despite nearly four feet of snow in the past eight days, festival director Erin Eddy says the long days for him and the 200 volunteers have been worth it.
“It’s not unusual for us to have that kind of snow, but coming all in the week of the event took a lot of work to get up to par,” Eddy said. “I’m usually up there at 6 a.m. during the festival week, but this year there have been some 4:30 and 5 a.m. mornings to shovel and stay ahead of the snow.”
With competitions as well as 85 clinics, the town has been full all week. And this year, the competitors are climbing more than ice.
Saturday’s route for the finals included the ice, but on top of that are logs that are suspended vertically, as well as an artificial climbing wall pitched at 42 degrees.
All this on top of another round of snow.
“Year after year, we’re out there in the weather,” Eddy said. “It just means putting on more clothes and a few more tarps to get under.”
