When I first researched this trip, one of my main objectives was to climb Ovisight, which truly looked like a spectacular climb in the guidebook. A grade 6 first pitch was followed by two amazing grade 5 pitches. In addition, when the first pitch isn't formed (which it wasn't), there is an alternative grade 5 pitch to that (Who's Your Daddy)- making for 3 great WI 5 pillars in succession. Sounds good? Only in our dreams, as it turned out.
We looked at the climb with binoculars from the car, and saw the "approach" pitch had what looked like a snow roof/cornice and some missing ice. It was far away though, and when it comes to ice climbing, looks with binoculars are deceiving. Or... are they?
So we decided to go take a look anyway. After a long slog up the drainage (the typical Cody approach), the pitch didn't look any better from up close. I decided to go up anyway, and take a closer look. Again, sometimes things are easier when you put your nose to them. Six vertical feet from the snow roof (which was at least 4 feet deep), I found myself on a thin shell of ice which was falling apart, revealing a rushing waterfall underneath. After a few minutes of thinking how I could climb this, fueled by the thoughts of 3 spectacular pillars of climbing above, sanity prevailed and I downclimbed. I don't think it's necessary to express my disappointment, as anyone reading this would understand.
Attempting to salvage the day, we tried to go to The Outdoorsman, but we ran out of time due to a long approach again. Eventually we cut our losses and went to eat at our favourite place again. Highlight of the day? We saw a herd of big-horn sheep which were pretty cool (and the climb name, Ovisight, comes from the name of the genus Ovis). Oh, and the soup of the day was amazing, as usual.
Looking down at another lengthy approach: Legg Creek | The Legg Creek approach pitch: a sad sight |
The approach pitch: bad shape :( | I decided to go take a look anyway... | Sadly, at this point the roof was 6 feet above my head, and the ice to get there was half an inch thick. So back down I went... |
Summarizes how I felt after downclimbing... | Bizarre ice step: translucent ice tube of rushing water with a deep pool of open water |
We tried to bypass the step as the book suggested, but it wasn't happening. | So off I went to check it out | And it was pretty good! |
Karen playing around on the step | Peter's accepts euros... I do too |