The NW Alpine Blog of Alpine Pursuits — news

Can't stop Dustin! Climbing Hidden Falls in Eastern Oregon's Owyhee Mountains 

Despite the strange weather and sometimes bizarre conditions in the mountains this winter, we've been getting a steady stream of reports from our team members as they get after it.  

Dustin Fric checked in with a quick e-mail which made us tired just reading. Dustin is one of the most stoked ice climbers ever: 

Ice season started strong and early on October 15th with an early season 50 day trip to Alaska. We climbed in Portage, Aklutna Canyon,The Alaska Range, Nabesna,The Chugach Range and Whittier. After one week of rest it was off to Montana to climb some classics in Hyalite and judge at the Bozeman Ice Festival which expanded to the U.I.A.A. North American Open Ice Climbing Championships. Since then I have been focusing on abstact Waterfalls in Idaho and in Eastern Oregon. 

Read Aaron Montgomery's blog post about his Korean Ice Climbing World Cup competition experience and his recent decision not to go to the Olympics in Sochi. 

Chris Kalman continues to send in Cochamo and you can follow his journey here.

Marcus Donaldson sent us this update, proving that you can live in Portland and climb and bunch of ice:

It has been an exciting winter so far to take advantage of rare conditions and visit some new locales. An early season dash up the Lowe Direct on Montana's Sphinx set the tone right out of the gate.  Two subsequent trips into the Colorado's San Juan mountains have yielded ascents of fun classics like the Talisman, Birdbrain Boulevard and the infrequent Telluride prize 'Sapphire Bullets of Pure Ice'.  Then recently we traveled into SW British Columbia to explore Bull River Canyon and stand atop Gibraltar Wall above the Kootenay River.  

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The 2013 American Alpine Journal is out and it includes a great article on climbing in Alaska's remote Revelations range. The cover photo is of Jason Stuckey by Clint Helander, and Jason is wearing his NW Alpine Neoshell Salopettes. Beautiful photo, great article. 

2013 AAJ Page 102

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We had a great time at the Bozeman Ice Festival. It was awesome to meet a bunch of new folks and we're really excited that Prolite Gear is now carrying NW Alpine, they've got a great shop and if you're in Bozeman you should definitely check it out if you're in town. We caught up with our friends Dustin Fric and Travis Mcalpine who were camping out in Hyalite Canyon for a number of weeks ticking off everything they could find in the guidebook. Here's a brief interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LphWxPALnw

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This years Portland Ice Fest at the Portland Rock Gym was off the hook (pun intended), with a bunch of free beer, good folks and Colin Haley smashing the competition! (Who thought it was a good idea to let him compete?) Anyway, big thanks to the Mazamas, Portland Rock Gym, and John Frieh for keeping the ice fest alive! John Frieh keeping it real

Dan Gaston, repping it hard for NWA

Grady the AAC Spokes-dog hides

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