Just prior to the big dump of snow we got this weekend, Jared and I squeezed in a day of adventure climbing high in the Amphitheater overlooking Ouray. The route was first put up nearly 25 years ago. This was my fifth trip up the face and it never disappoints. Very sweet to have fresh sticks into sticky blue ice and no evidence of previous climbing traffic – a rarity in the San Juans. Get some!

Topping out on Big Blue pitch

Mid-route

Weaving through cool alpine terrain

Initial ice in the upper bowl

Approaching the final pillar – Big Blue

Mixed corner that accesses the upper bowl

Heading down