Every January on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, an eclectic
gathering of ice climbers, gear manufacturing exhibitors, and ice
climbing voyeurs simply thrilled to watch at a safe distance from
the precipitous edges, meets in the Ouray Ice Park, in the San Juan
Mountains, near Oray, Colorado.
The festival was first held in January of 1996 and is promoted by
ice climbing pioneer Jeff Lowe. The festival is now widely recognized
as the premier gathering of its kind.
Events over this incredible weekend include various climbing clinics
from beginning to advanced, an opportunity to check out and try the
latest and greatest gear and catch up with some of the world’s most
famous and experienced climbers.
The Festival offers one of the best competition route’s that continues
to challenge the best climbers in the world. Plus they are always adding
or changing things up. They include such events as an ax throwing contest,
tight rope walk across the gorge, and a mariad of other festivitiess.
The Festival isn’t just for climbers – they also have gear auctions,
film and slide show presentations and a Kids Climbing Wall away from
the gorge to get the little tykes started off right.
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