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Dexter Creek Slabs (1)

Statistics

  • Date - 01/16/2009
  • Elevation - 9,000'
  • Route - Dexter Creek Slabs
  • Miles - 1.5
  • Elevation Gain - 700'
  • ACME Mapper - Link
  • CalTopo - Link
  • Partners - Brian Kooienga, Kevin Smith

Description

After driving down to Ouray, Colorado, late Thursday night, Brian, Kevin, and I climbed the Dexter Creek Slabs on Friday morning.  The drive only takes about 10 to 15 minutes from town, and the approach was only 35 minutes.  We did have a boot pack trail for the hike in, which made things easier.

The first pitch was a short 20' to 25' step of WI3 so we free-soloed it.  After about 150' to 200' of snow climbing, you are at the base of the second pitch.  We chose a line on the far right which kept the climbing a bit easier.  Brian led this pitch and brought Kevin and I up on a three screw anchor.  Above pitch 2 was another shorter snow climb than between pitches 1 and 2, and then the final ice pitch 3 of the climb.  I led this pitch and then brought Kevin and Brian up on an existing tree anchor.

We rappelled off the tree back to to the top of pitch 2.  We rappelled pitch 2 from an existing tree anchor and were able to hike down the snow and around pitch 1 without a third rappel.  Dexter Creek Slabs is a fun multi-pitch ice climb not far outside of Ouray, Colorado, with a relatively short approach.  If you are looking to escape the ice park for a day on some easy to moderate ice, this is the place to go.

Photos

Kevin gearing up below pitch 1.Brian at the base of pitch 2.Kevin snow climbing between pitch 1 and pitch 2.Brian leading pitch 2.Brian leading pitch 2.Brian leading pitch 2.Brian at the anchor at the top of pitch 2.Kevin following pitch 2.Kevin following pitch 2.Snow climb and ice pitch 3.James leading pitch 3.James leading pitch 3.James leading pitch 3.James leading pitch 3.Views