For a very limited time each year, we get an arctic air mass in Oregon. During this short window of time, the ice climbers here (including me) go completely nuts. To get this ice, you have to drop what your doing and jump on it. Thomas and I made the voyage from Bend up to the Columbia Gorge to have a look at this monster. The climb, named Ainsworth Left, is an area classic and one of the more sought after chunks of ice in the state. It is 700 feet long and is perched up in a narrow gully above Ainsworth State Park.
Below is Thomas coming up the first pitch of the route. Even on the first pitch we got pretty wet with all of the water running down the ice.
Below is Thomas leading the third pitch. After this pitch we got completely soaked and decided to rappel instead of continuing up to the top. All in all we made it up about 450 feet of a 700 foot route, so we were pretty excited anyway.
If you'd like to try ice climbing in a more reliable climate, TMG guide Chris Wright will guiding ice in Ouray, Colorado all winter. For more details, see the Ouray Page on our website.
Below is Thomas coming up the first pitch of the route. Even on the first pitch we got pretty wet with all of the water running down the ice.
Below is Thomas leading the third pitch. After this pitch we got completely soaked and decided to rappel instead of continuing up to the top. All in all we made it up about 450 feet of a 700 foot route, so we were pretty excited anyway.
If you'd like to try ice climbing in a more reliable climate, TMG guide Chris Wright will guiding ice in Ouray, Colorado all winter. For more details, see the Ouray Page on our website.
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