By Sam Davidson
Sharpen your tools and stretch those calves--ice season's here and this year the climbing opportunities are better than ever (assuming cooperative weather, of course).
An excellent agreement has resolved access problems in the Uncompahgre Gorge, next to Ouray, Colorado. The approach to this famous area formerly required trespassing, but a lease agreement signed in September by Ouray County and the land owner means that climbers now will enter the Gorge without facing "No Trespassing" signs.
The new lease gives the county a recreational easement until December 31, 2007, and will be utilized to create the Uncompahgre Gorge Recreation Area and Ouray Ice Park, featuring ice climbing and nordic skiing in winter, and hiking and mountain biking in summer. In addition, the City of Ouray has granted access to its portion of the Gorge and given permission to create drips on the "dry side" by tapping into an old water line.
This agreement was originally sought by Gary Wild and Bill Whitt, owners of the Ouray Victorian Inn (which offers discounts to ice climbers). With the Access Fund's Chris Archer, who drafted language for the lease, they met with the land owner to address liability concerns. The Access Fund offered initially to sign the lease, but the final agreement simplifies management and means that Ouray will actively encourage public use of the area. Archer applauded the efforts of Wild and Whitt, who were the "driving forces" behind this success story. For more information on ice climbing around Ouray, contact the Ouray Victorian Inn at 800.8-OURAY or Ouray Mountain Sports at 303.325.4284.
Many climbers have contacted the Access Fund wondering when the much-ballyhooed management plan for Bridalveil and Ingram Falls near Telluride will be approved. The plan, which establishes a recreational easement and legal access to these coveted ice climbs, was scheduled for approval last winter but got sidetracked when the local Sheriff complained about search-and-rescue logistics. Now, word is that the Sheriff expects the area to be opened for climbing this winter. The Town Council apparently is still willing to endorse the plan, once new documents have been drafted bring the easement up to date. For the latest Telluride ice news, call the Telluride Mountaineer 303.728.6736.