 Located
just south of Bozeman, Montana, the Hyalite Canyon has some of the
earliest forming accessible ice
climbing in the lower 48 states.
The ice climbing season is divided into three categories: early season,
broad season, and late season. Early season ice climbs form when the
canyon receives a wet fall. However, when the temperatures get colder,
the water sources freeze and stop, resulting in brittle ice because no
new ice forms. Broad season climbs usually form in drainages which have
a constant source of water. Creeks in these drainages typically flow
all year long, and in the winter, form fat popular climbs. Conditions
of broad season climbs change throughout the winter from steep steps in
the early season to broad sweeps later in the season. Late season
climbs form when water flows during the day and freezes in the cold
clear temperatures at night. Access to late season climbs usually
require a snowmobile.
To get to Hyalite Canyon, turn off I-90 at Exit 305. Go
south on 19th
Street through town for nearly 10 miles. Turn left onto Hyalite Canyon
Road. From the intersection, different climbing areas are located an
additional 2-13 miles down the road. During the winter, Hyalite Canyon
Road is occasionally closed due to heavy snows and the Forest Service
decides not to plow. When the road does reopen, drive carefully as the
road will become too narrow for two-lane traffic. When you approach an
oncoming car, one of you will have to pull to the side to let the other
pass.
Learn more about Hyalite
Canyon Ice Climbing.
Bozeman Ice Festival
 The Bozeman Ice Fesitval
continues to get better. After more
than a
decade of running two of the best grassroots ice festivals in the
country, Barrel Mountaineering and Northern Lights Trading Company have
joined forces with First Ascent Press and Montana Alpine Guides to
create one single ice climbing event to kick off the Montana Ice
Climbing Season. Get ice climbing instruction and learn tricks and
techniques from many of the top ice climbers in the world
Learn more at the Bozeman
Ice Festival Web Site.
|
No Comments Exist - Please help us make this site better and comment on this content.
