Headed up the main fork yesterday with Tyson to take on Cleopatra's Needle and received a disconcerting surprise while on pitch 1. While Cleo's was nice and fat, looking to be in great shape, what I believe to be Airborne Ranger (correct me if I'm wrong) came crashing down to our right. The bottom of the icicle embedded itself in the middle ledge and the mid section tumbled all the way to the bottom.
A bit shaken, we stayed away from the right side but continued up and completed the climb with no other problems. The ice on the right looks to be sun-beaten and either picked out or melted out to form nice cups. At first I thought that would make for an easy ascent but the collapse made me realize it was probably weak over there. Please be careful if climbing Cleo's, I'd hate to see someone caught under that. Overall it was a great day with beautiful weather and clear views. Go on and get after it.
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Is it the brittleness?
I'm not an ice structure guru, so this might be obvious, but was the fragility of Airborne Ranger related to the super cooling we've had recently? The ice on Lower Green Sleeves was amazingly brittle yesterday (Sunday); a person could have been set up to start a catering business with the number of dinner plates that were coming off.
Airborne is the ice that is
Airborne is the ice that is sort hanging and sort of connected to Cleo's further left in the photo. The hanger you guys saw fall was climbed earlier this season by Rusty Willis which he nameed Bent Shaft. At least thats how I understand things.
Regardless, it must have been pretty unique to see that! We were up there this past Sunday and were all thinking how interesting it would have been to see that sucker let loose.
Great observations. Cold
Great observations. Cold weather does shrink the ice and make things a tad more difficult.
Be safe!