Whitesides Mtn. Starshine Jan 4 2012

Photo taken at 4:15pm. Jan 4

Whitesides Ice Report

If your bolder than I you might be able to make it happen!  
This photo was taken at 4:30pm Jan 3 c.o. my contact in Cashiers. 

Pray for cold so we can have the ice season we all want so bad! 

Got a report that 215 was thin but climbable.  Hopefully we can get photos soon.  I know a few guys up there as I type.
Phil

Cold Weather in the Forecast

Here it comes y'all!  Get your tools and crampons sharp becuase we are FINALLY getting the first cold snap of the season.  Click to get details on the surrounding areas:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/new-year-starts-with-cold-blast_2011-12-30

Highlands/Cashiers:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USNC0317

Brevard:
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/USNC0076:1:US

Blowing Rock/Boone
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Boone+NC+USNC0072

Looking like the Boone area is the place to be.

Hope you get out to swing some tools!

Snow's a flyin'!

4 inches of snow on the Blue Ridge Parkway marked the beginning of winter early this week.  If you are like me then your itching to get out on the cold, blue goodness this year.  Be patient people and enjoy this stoke from last years season!

Is it cold yet?

Welcome to the first post of the 2011/12 NC Ice season.  We are still here to bring you the best, most up to date conditions of ice in WNC and the surrounding areas!  Along with that we will be adding our favorite gear reviews, routes, and stories from the season.  If you follow this blog please share with your friends that may have not heard of us.

From the gear shop perspective, we have already received our first shipment of ice gear and have been moving it right along.  Something about cold weather in the South gets ice climbers all hopped and jittery like they have had too much Mountain Dew!  We love it.  Stop in and see us this season and tell us your goals for this winter!

Safest Way to Climb Ice

I have been out of the loop for a while and if I told you I was sunning myself on a exotic beach some where would you believe me?

Back to it!
I came across this youtube video of the safest way to climb ice.  I think its genius.
Safest Way to Climb Ice

I did hear that the N. Side of Whitesides is in so have it!

Phil

Linville Ice

Judging from the overwhelming blog stats y'all are checking in pretty regularly!  Thanks so much for the support and I will try to keep the reports coming.  Since Facebook is stoking my psych for ice it looks like people got the message and have been making it happen out there.  215 was packed last weekend and the proof is in the pictures I have been seeing.  Plenty of fat ice up there and even good enough to bring Sean Cobourn out of ice retirement and swing the tools.  Here is the scoop from the last 3 days.
Thursday Jan 13- 215, not great but forming.
Friday Jan 14th- Whitesides, Snicefest on lower angled stuff but moderate fatness on steeper stuff.  The amount of snow really took a toll on the forming of new ice.
Sat. Jan 15: Linville area: A picture is worth a thousand words.

Katie Mattson swinging tools into WI 4+ near Linville Gorge

Bertrand "Swiss Stallion" Martenet cruising a possible FA mixed line.  We are looking into it. 

 

                         Bertrand pulling out of the business and on to 10cm ice near the top. 

All photos are courtesy of Jon Jones.  Check out more at www.jonmjones.com

Temps are starting to warm up here in Pisgah Forest but should still be good for climbing this weekend.  We are looking forward to the AMI Ice Climbing Demo day at 215 on Sat.  Registration is full at this time but we will see you out there.  LGO has bookoos of ice screws coming in on Thursday if you are still looking for some.  We have CAMP Radions and Black Diamond Express Screws up to 13cm.  Last time I checked BD was totally sold out so this might be the last chance for a while.
Have fun out there and see you on the ice!
Phil