Colorado Ice II: Clear Creek Canyon

After the previous day's sufferfest, we were entirely content to stay on the ground until Ariane left us a subtle voicemail along the lines of you may never get this chance again. So we geared up, checked out of the hotel, and headed out with a simple goal: less approach, more climbing. The closest ice to Denver lies in the foothills west of Golden, home to not only Coors and the Colorado School of Mines, but the delicious Golden Skillet, where we had a gigantic breakfast before heading into Clear Creek Canyon.

We were headed for Coors Lite, a two-pitch WI 2-3 about 4 miles upcanyon. Despite a steady snow, the climb is clearly visible as you wind your way along Route 6, on the left wall across the creek. Best of all, it's an easy 10 minute jaunt from the car. Multiple parties were there, but one was heading up the left side as we got there, and the other party was TRing a couple of variations on the right.

G geared up and headed up the first climb, making it look easy from the start. The first pitch consists of three tiers, broken by short but vertical sections of 2+sh climbing. Solid ice, if a little picked out from precious climbers. Couldn't see or hear G after the first ledge, but after a couple of communicative tugs of the rope I soon headed up to meet him at a tree belay (both pitches have bolts for rap/TR).

The second pitch is further back up the creek, a couple of hundred yards past a small, easily soloed bit of ice. P2 had a not overly long, but mostly vertical free-hanging column up the middle, with easier but less protectable lines to the left and right. Conditions were extremely wet, with water running down the back of the pillar; I thought I should at least get a little leading in, but after three (closely spaced) screws in less than stellar ice I lowered and let G lead the rest. There may have been a third pitch somewhere above, but with a flight in a couple of hours, we were soon coiling rope and rapping back to the ground.