Tag: Ouray Ice Park
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Ouray faces economic hit thanks to Mother Nature
Peter O’Neil knew that the Ouray Ice Park would have a rough year after the first week of December. Following Thanksgiving weekend, a solid layer of farmed ice sheets formed along the sides of Uncompahgre Gorge. Days later, the southwest Colorado town hit 50 degrees — an uncommonly warm temperature for December. O’Neil, executive director…
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Looking back on Ouray Ice Park’s 30 years — and ahead to uncertain future
In the mid-1990s, from his previous home in Steamboat Springs, Mike Gibbs was hearing about an icy realm unlike any other growing in a rocky pocket of southwest Colorado. “The word was there was some man-made, farmed ice park down in Ouray,” Gibbs recalled, “and there was a bunch of different climbing.” He arrived in…
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Ouray Ice Park opens for season on heels of ‘game-changer’ agreement
A famed arena for ice climbing has opened for the season in southwest Colorado — the start of an annual winter tradition that also represents the beginning of a bright, new future for access. Ouray’s City Council recently approved the transfer of a private parcel in Ouray Ice Park to city government. The agreement regarded 7½…
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Deal in the works to preserve access at Ouray Ice Park amid liability concerns
The liability concern sweeping popular recreation lands in Colorado has come to a world-renowned destination for ice climbing. For decades during winter’s freezing days and nights, crews have run water from pipes and shower heads down the Uncompahgre River Gorge to form huge curtains and daggers that call to tens of thousands of axe- and…
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Weekend things to do around Denver and beyond
THURSDAY-SUNDAY An exciting weekend all about ice climbing, with events, classes and competitions: The 28th annual Ouray Ice Festival & Competition. It’s the town’s signature fundraiser for the Ouray Ice Park. An Elite Mixed Climbing Competition, open to the public and there are cash prizes. A takes-your-breath-away Speed Climbing Competition on Sunday. ourayicepark.com/ouray-ice-festival THURSDAY-SUNDAY A wild weekend of…
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Gifts from Colorado’s outdoors: 11 new trails, open spaces and happenings celebrated in 2022
Christmas gifts only come once a year. But gifts across Colorado’s great outdoors come year-round. Here, we reflect on developments around the Front Range and beyond that brought joy to enthusiasts — and will bring joy for many years to come. Anemone Trail Not long into 2022, after more than two years of stone-intensive construction,…
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Southwest Colorado ice climbing park gets ‘jumpstart’ for major expansion
Ouray Ice Park is closer to a major expansion with a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, the state agency funding outdoor-related projects with lottery revenues. The $100,000 grant is “the jumpstart that we need,” said Peter O’Neil, executive director of the nonprofit overseeing the southwest Colorado playground beloved by ice climbers around the world. The…
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Southwest Colorado ice climbing park gets ‘jumpstart’ for major expansion
Ouray Ice Park is closer to a major expansion with a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado, the state agency funding outdoor-related projects with lottery revenues. The $100,000 grant is “the jumpstart that we need,” said Peter O’Neil, executive director of the nonprofit overseeing the southwest Colorado playground beloved by ice climbers around the world. The…
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After ‘catastrophic’ destruction, southwest Colorado ice park set to open
Months after a destructive rockfall raised doubts, southwest Colorado’s famous winter climbing destination is expected to open for the season. Peter O’Neil, executive director of the nonprofit that manages Ouray Ice Park, said mid-December is the goal as always. As always, opening depends on cold, overnight temperatures that allow ice farmers to spray water and…