Yesterday for the 2nd Annual Mammut Hyalite Ice Breaker Invitational, 12 teams climbed 48 different routes for a combined pitch count of over 110 pitches. Despite temperatures that barely got above 10 F all day it was a glorious blue-bird day in Hyalite Canyon. Plus the road was plowed! Thanks to EVERYONE that has worked so hard over the years to help make this happen. In order for us to keep this new era going, drive careful on the road, please!
The Ice Holdz team has a portable climbing wall in the Grotto Falls parking lot, so if you are up Hyalite, with the Festival or not, stop by and check it out and give the artificial ice holds a spin. It's pretty cool.
I didn't really learn much new information about route conditions that I did not already post earlier in the week. Things are getting fatter by the day, however and many routes now have good trails to them. There are a few small condition updates to report:
It does appear however that Thrill is Gone and Silken Slot (although no one climbed the latter) have finally formed up in the crisp temps. Land of the Lost and the pillar to the right were both climbed yesterday. The first pitch of Solstice has dried out and so now is about half rock but still a worthy climb. Slot Corner recieved several ascents despite not really being formed as did Magically Delish.
Other than the many standard routes in the Genesis, Mummy, and Winter Dance areas that got climbed yesterday, some of the other highlights of the Hyalite Ice Breaker Invitational were: Zach Attack & Upper Mummy were linked up by our own Whit Magro and Adam George (walk the upper ledge system between them); Stan Price, one of the original Hyalite/Cody legends, pulled off the Sceptre (which is a hanging dagger); three teams battled up Cleopatra's Needle which is in WI5+/6 shape; 6 teams (4 Men & 2 Women) climbed 10 pitches or more; this year's Men's Champions climbed 15 (that is one pitch every 36 minutes and two more than last years Champions Guy Lacelle and Ross Lynn); the Women's Champions did 11 pitches including two hard routes, The Matrix and Responsible Family Men, that none of the Men's teams completed; rarely climbed routes like Kansas Cornfield and Equinox saw ascents; two cases of beer were quickly gone back in the parking lot despite 0 degree temps and severe dehydration; countless highfives and fist bumps by everyone; 35 minutes - average length of the hot showers by everyone back home.
Come to the American Legion on Main Street in Bozeman at 7 pm tonight for the complete award ceremony where I present the Golden Ice Axe Award to both the Men's and Women's Champions. This is followed by a great slide show by Arc'Teryx athlete and Black Diamond Sales Rep Roger Strong.
Thanks everyone for helping make the Bozeman Ice Festival such a fun event with such a great grassroots, community vibe.
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