Cold weather has been good for the Cottonmouth. Loren and I got above the inversion and were climbing on nice sticky ice in decent temps. It's thin but in pretty good shape. The last few feet are a bit muddy and lacking of ice, but that should change shortly; it sounds like the temps are supposed to stay cold.
-Olin
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Chickenman aka Cottonmouth Beta
Nice shot Loren. Looking lean and mean.
FYI: I have a beta sheet for "Chickenman" aka Cotton Mouth that you can download.
http://www.firstascentpress.com/add_info.html
Please note, I do need to update the name on the beta sheet (which I put together years ago) as I've since figured out some of the history of this route.
John Kravetz (lead) and Bill Murdock, our friendly Gallatin County Commissioner who has played a huge role in the Hyalite Road plowing (every ice climber in Gallatin County needs to vote for him if given a chance), did the earliest known ascent on Jan 2, 1986 right after the Middle Cottonwood trailhead was improved and opened to the public earlier that year. Their ascent was done in very cold temps (high of zero F) and, as always, had thin ice at the top with a mud pick last tool placement (and trust me, with the tools they had back then, it would have been a desperate move at that).
John’s nickname at the time was “chickenman”, after Frank “chickenman” Testa, a notorious mobster who was recently blown up with a nail bomb, so they named the climb after that fine specimen.
Although the route and the name were dutifully posted at the local boot repair shop for all to see, it was later renamed "Cottonmouth" in Big Sky Ice.
thanks for the extra beta
went out friday morning. the ice was soft and a bit drippy despite cold temps. about five feet of mud climbing at the top. fun trip to the bridgers
Cottonmouth 1/2/09
Eric and I skied (skis not necessary) up to look at Cottonmouth this afternoon. I unfortunately forgot my camera, so I don't have pics. The ice seems to be in fairly good shape, I was just reluctant to climb today with temps in the forties. It did seem somewhat thinner than the photo below, and the topout looked thin and dirty, perhaps always the case?