Missoula Area Ice Conditions

 In the middle of my third year living and climbing in this area I thought I would give a detailed overview of the current climbing conditions, access and possibly new routes.

Cascade Falls on Hwy 135 comes in fairly early and stays unless it is raining and warm for a week, which unfortunately it is around here rather often.  Varies anywhere from a thin scramble up to WI 3 for a short spell on a pillar near the top, pillar often gets melted out on the underside during warm spells.

Has any one seen it?Did it all melt? up2ztop

Looking for conditions Rainbow, Roadside, Cascade ect?

 Went in to Finley this morning and came right back out again.  There was ice but not as much as we were hoping.  

The drive in went fine for a 4 wheel drive - high clearance - good tire pickup without chains.  Less of a vehicle might have been a little trouble.

I have attached a photo.  Fox corner 1st pitch not there.  First pitch Graineater thin.  Upper pitches thin Top third of weed eater absent.

Hey so, recently a large group of people developed Sweat House Creek Bouldering, checking the area out we noticed quite a few drips and a small fall.

All main features at Mission are in, although the bottom of the hourglass was thin or not there.  Two parties climbed three different routes in the gully.  Some parts were pretty thin but each route went all the way up.  Whisper is in as well.

That said, it is raining in Missoula this morning and the bridge crossing was dicy.  We calved a door sized piece coming back. 

We drove a Nissan Frontier pickup with 4 chains all the way to the trailhead and it too was dicy.  There were many opportunities for getting high centered.&nbs

 Mission Falls is not just in yet,(as of 10-21-10) ice bridge is forming  and ice is forming nicely!  Pray for cold temps!

Went to dynamo today and it is not even close.  Its actually no better now than it was 4 weeks ago.