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Yes, it’s the 2011 poster, but whatever. They haven’t quite jumped on the 2012 bandwagon yet.
The OURAY ICE CLIMBING FESTIVAL!!! Seriously, I have wanted to go to this festival for years, but I am always so late to remember it and by the time I do, it is all booked up. I was psyched when my friend Craig called me the other day and told me that a few of us were booking a hotel for the festival cause there were only 4 rooms left in town!
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For those of you that haven’t been to Ouray, or have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about, let me explain! Ouray is a small town in the southwestern part of the state (northeast of Telluride, and kinda by Lake City, the most adorable town in the world!) and it is stunning. Surrounded by mountains, the town is seriously picturesque. Ouray also happens to have an ice climbing park and is a mecca for the sport. Because of this, the largest ice climbing festival occurs every January. Lots of gear is demo’d, lots of famous climbers show their stuff, but most importantly, there are a lot of clinics. I plan on taking the Intro to Ice Climbing for Women clinic with Cindy, and I am so excited! Registration for the clinics doesn’t open until November 1, but we’re all set with the hotel. I mean, seriously. How cool will it be to learn how to do this??!!
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I. Am. Psyched!
Have any of y’all seen the TV show Everest: Beyond the Limit? I don’t think it’s on the air anymore, but I discovered it this past weekend on my Netflix streaming. It’s a reality show that follows Russell Brice, an expedition leader who takes groups up Everest. And let me tell you– shit gets intense!
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One man was a double amputee (reminded me of this post!) and a sherpa had to carry him down because his prosthetics were too painful after the summit. I am most amazed by the sherpas. You watch these guys as they complete their 10th or 11th summit of Everest and set up the ropes and carry the food, and then you see the other paying customers struggle up the mountain as they creep through the ‘Death Zone.’ The sherpas’ bodies are amazing! These men are seriously built for this mountain, and watching them in action left me in awe! If you get a chance, check the show out. It’s unbelievable, and the cinematography is insane!!
I definitely would climb Aconcagua, and Kilimanjaro is on my life bucket list….but I don’t know about Everest. I used to say yes, but the older I get, I’m not willing to die on a peak 🙂
Have you ever ice climbed before? Or do you think it’s scary and/or stupid?!
17 Comments
I am way to chicken (and whiny) to try Everest but Kilimanjaro would be amazing! Way to try something new with the ice climbing. Looks like that trip will be amazing!
That looks really cool…although I should probably figure out how to climb a mountain before I set my sights on ice! Rock climbing is definitely on our list of things to figure out how to do now that we are surrounded by mountains!
Hey – I am a new follower (a coloradan living on the island st. maarten until April) and I am a huge Everest and Russel Brice fan – Have they done some new seasons? Have a blast in Ouray – it will be a great time.
I have gone but nothing like in those pictures, alot easier to do
Climbing Everest would be cool, the shape we have to be in to do it, and to think, an endurance athlete said that
Oh my, I would like to think of myself as adventurous but just looking at those pictures makes me nervous. I can’t wait to hear about it!
That looks so amazing!
What a great lookin’ festival! I hope you and your friends have a blast.
I don’t know if I would do Everest. I guess I really have never thought about it before. I have a hard enough time scaling the Incline with my asthma. Maybe I will just stick to triathlons!
Awesome! Love Ouray! It’s beautiful, but I didn’t know about the ice climbing!
I don’t think it’s for me…hell those little hills in the Ruggad manica killed me. 🙂
Wow. Ice climbing sounds really intense (but really fun). I would definitely love to climb if, but I lack upper arm strength and would plummet to my death. =[
I agree with you on Everest. I think it’s a wonderful idea, but I would never attempt because I know I’d probably die as well. =]
P.S. I’m from Colorado as well! =]
I love looking at pictures of Everest and hearing stories of people climbing Everest, but NO I never want to do it. I try to avoid snow and cold as much as possible (which is hard to do in Colorado).
I’ve seen that show! My husband loves it. 🙂 I used to like rock climbing, but honestly, I really hate heights. This is why running is a better choice for me. 🙂
I think ice climbing is out of the area of being remotely close to anything I should be doing. I love looking at those pictures, though!
I am way jealous you are going to Ouray, LOVE LOVE LOVE that town, such a cool place! My son is a big ice climber, his friend’s dad is a semi-professional climber and takes my son up ice walls in the winter. I think I may be the only mom in town who had to buy her son crampons and an ice axe for her than 14-year old’s xmas present :).
I have seen that Everest movie and that place scares the crap out of me!! My ice climbing son would probably give his any of his limbs to be able to climb that thing. Me, not so much!
That is so bad ass. I’m way too scared to try something like that, but I think it’s amazing!
I’ve watched a couple seasons of Everest Beyond the Limit and LOVED it. The big guy with the metal in his foot sort of annoyed me…but he grew on me by the end.
I’m terrified of heights. Just thinking about this is making my palms sweat.
More power to anyone who would though-that takes guts!
Wow Ouray looks amazing!! I lived in Colorado my entire life but never went to Ouray. My brother lived there for awhile though. And this ice climbing sounds scary…I’m a big wimp. But wow, I get a rush just reading about it.