Earlier this autumn we reported on the terrible floods which swept through Colorado. As is often the case, there's a tiny silver lining to the clouds as it has produced some of the best ice climbing conditions that the locals have seen for decades.
The first notable ascent was made by Topher Donahue and Kevin Cooper in the last week of October. The pair walked into the legendary Diamond (home to many classic rock climbs) on Longs Peak east face, and climbed a new route called 'Window Pain'. Kevin led the crux pitch, which was described as 'the hardest lead of his life'. Topher Donahue is mainly a rock climber and had climbed ice once in the past 3 years apparently, making this route even more impressive!
Meanwhile on Mt Evans, Ben Collett and Will Mayo have added 'Silhouetteâ' - the new hardest route in the Mt Evans area. 2 other routes were also established nearby recently, but Silhouette (graded WI6+R/M9) in by far the toughest of all the new ice climbing routes. There has been a bit of controversy actually as people have suggested that the Silhouette is overgraded, and that the first ascentionists are making it sound tougher and more committing than it is.
New Ice Climbing Routes in Colorado | EpicTV Climbing Daily, Ep. 169
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