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Celebrating 25 Years: Ouray Ice Festival 2020

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Last year I wasn’t able to make it to the annual Ouray Ice Festival since I was busy exploring the Paria Plateau that weekend instead, but this year I made sure to spend a few hours at the festival on Saturday morning since it’s the 25th Anniversary of the event! I left home early on Saturday morning, grabbed a quick breakfast on my way out of town and arrived at the Ouray Ice Park just in time to watch the beginning of the Elite Mixed Climbing Competition. After watching a few of the ice climbers on the competition route from the bridge, I wandered around the vendor booths and then watched and photographed other climbers on the ice in the Uncompahgre Gorge. I left in the early afternoon and grabbed a Mocha Shake from Mouse’s before heading west into Utah for the remainder of the weekend.

 

 

It was a beautiful morning in Ouray, Colorado!

Ouray Morning

This year the Elite Mixed Climbing Competition course had four boxes strung across the gorge that had to be crossed to reach the end.

Boxes

The first competitor of the day on the rock and in the shade.

Ice Curtain

Now transitioning from the rock to the ice and into the sunlight.

Into The Light

A big icicle in the Uncompahgre Gorge.

Big Icicle

Ice Climber

Ouray Ice

Looking down on the Ouray Ice Festival from the upper bridge.

Ouray Ice Festival 2020

Looking up to Twin Peaks.

Twin Peaks

Hey look! There’s a cow on the ice!

Cow On The Ice

I like how small this ice climber looks in the Uncompahgre Gorge.

Uncompahgre Gorge

Now a closer view.

Step Up

Big Ice Wall

Hanging out…

Hanging Out

One foot on the rock, one foot on the ice and one axe on the tower.

Transition

Bottom of the Canyon

Going Up

One last view of the mountains above Ouray as I walked back to my Jeep from the festival and started my drive to Utah.

Snow-Covered Peak

>> Ouray Ice Festival 2020 Photo Gallery

2 Comments

  1. Lorna Mildice
    Lorna Mildice January 29, 2020

    Fabulous photos! I’ve always wanted to go to the festival and see it in person – looks like a great day.

    • Randy Langstraat
      Randy Langstraat January 29, 2020

      Thanks Lorna! It’s a lot of fun to watch the climbers, even if you aren’t a climber. It’s also a great excuse to visit Ouray in the winter!

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