Connecticut Ice is Nice !

[Chip]

vftt member J.Dub and his friend Paul, whom I've climbed with before, invited me to join them for a local ice outing. It was about 2 degrees when I left the house at 9am to meet them. It would warm to about 18 during the day. The Belay Jackets were in use and appreciated.

This cliff was covered in ice and there were several other groups present; an AMC group that J.Dub knows and climbs with, an EMS school group and maybe a couple others. Climbers could walk around and set Top Ropes or lead and set pro and anchors. We chose to Top Rope. J.Dub and Paul practiced setting pro and retrieving it. I just climbed and belayed. At this point I have all the gear to lead but haven't gotten to practicing yet. Soon.

Nothing terribly dramatic. No screamers. Perhaps some near misses with dislodged ice. Basically a nice, cold, safe day on ice with some good company in a great spot here in sunny Connecticut !

Here's the pics from today. Thanks for looking.

 

[Doodles]

Hey Chip

That's some nice ice. Was that just melt and freeze, or is that a stream that is supplying the water over the cliffs?

Looks like a fun day.

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

 

[Viewseeker]

Chip That looks awesome..ice is nice!! we sure are having cold this yr. to enjoy that kinda climbing. thanks for sharing the pics.

 

[Chip]

Hey Chip

That's some nice ice. Was that just melt and freeze, or is that a stream that is supplying the water over the cliffs?

Looks like a fun day.

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

I haven't seen these cliffs in the warm weather. Melt and Freeze, mostly I'd guess, not waterfall, but they must be pretty damp in the warm weather.

 

[J.Dub]

Hey Chip

That's some nice ice. Was that just melt and freeze, or is that a stream that is supplying the water over the cliffs?

It was my first time at the crag myself, but I'd concur with Chip that it's a melt-freeze/groundwater seepage, not a true waterfall. The site is sweet for local toproping: easy access (about thirty seconds off Rt. 8), somewhat protected so there's no wind, and about a 200' wide curtain of ice.

However, I'm not sure the 50' walk from the car to the ice really count as a "trip"...

 

[cbcbd]

Very cool, is that the Thomaston ice I've heard about?

 

[J.Dub]

Very cool, is that the Thomaston ice I've heard about?

Aye, 'tis the very same.

 

[Chip]

I'm going to recycle this "trip report"; perhaps 2 local ice outings rank as a trip.

Me and J.Dub got out again this morning on the Thomaston, CT ice. A couple of different routes. Temps warmed from about 20 to 40 while we were there. Ice was a bit flakey but not bad. A few other guys showed up as we were leaving.

J.Dub ascending.

Me belaying.

 

[leaf]

nice ice out there.. soon you'll be able to go to NH and climb with the big boys.

totally kidding, of course. stuff is pretty vertical on those cliffs. good climbing!

 

[Woody]

Nice Ice

Chip,

I didn't catch this thread originally. This place looks pretty nice. I'll have to go check it out some time. It is kind of weird to drive south to go ice climbing instead of north, but I even have to drive south to get to Auburn and CT is not that much further.
Thanks for sharing the pictures.