|
Randy Cassingham's BlogHistorical Details and Author's Notes from This is True® - the First For-Profit E-mail Publication (and Still Going Strong). |
Ouray Ice Festival Photos
It's winter in Colorado. No, I mean winter! The temperature here this morning was -12.2F (-25.5C). The high today was 10.7F (-11.8C). This weekend, then, was perfect for the Ouray Ice Festival, held each year at what is likely the premier ice park in the world -- at the very least the best public park of its kind, the Ouray Ice Park.
Subscribe for Free
(The weather data at my house really is at my house: I apparently have the only web-accessible weather station in Ouray County. Expect to see some pretty extreme conditions there over the next few days -- and especially nights!)
This year's Ice Fest was the 12th annual event, and it was fantastic. I was well suited up against the cold and snapping pictures of the climbers (there are several safe places to look down into the gorge from directly above so you can see things). Climbing what? Ice! Frozen waterfalls. Challenging? You bet.
Is ice climbing dangerous? You're darned right! I hadn't been there for 20 minutes when my pager went off -- the Ouray ambulance was being dispatched to the Ice Park for an injured climber. I hiked up to the staging point to offer a hand. They didn't really need me: in addition to the well-staffed ambulance crew, Ouray Mountain Rescue has a crew on scene during the entire festival. "But hey: you have a camera?! Would you pop over to where we're bringing her up to get some shots of our new technique?" You bet! I only had my little Fuji digital snapshot camera, but for its size it takes great photos.
|
The gal had been hit in the head by falling ice. Luckily, one of the hard rules in the ice park is that helmets are required not just during any climbs, but anytime a climber is in the gorge. She was no fool: she was wearing hers, and her helmet broke so her head didn't have to. Still, being hit on the head that hard can cause significant internal injuries ranging from concussion to spinal cord damage, so they hauled her out in a basket and took her in for a check, as well as to stitch up the gash on her forehead. As they loaded her in, they decided they'd like to have another female on board, and my wife was standing there. Like me, Kit has just finished up her EMT class work, so she jumped aboard.
Happily, the victim was not seriously injured, and only one other climber received an injury during the event, and that one was minor too. And if this all sounds (and looks!) really interesting, there's just one thing better: come yourself next year! Bring warm clothes. (Scroll down for more photos.) |
|
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
|
A wider view to get an idea as to the scale -- but my camera's lens still isn't wide enough to take it all in. Photo ©2007 by Randy Cassingham.
RSS
Most Recent Comments
Thanks a bazillion for posting the pics of the OIF. I'm a rock and ice climber and mountaineer (and a Mountain Rescue Association member) myself up here in Washington, and have always wanted to compete down there. Sadly, familial obligations and the passage of time have forced me into spectator status for such competitions. While I can occasionally get out to swing a tool or two, these shenanigans are best left for the youngsters. Some young friends of ours from up here placed very well at the OIF this year, and we're quite proud of them. Oh, just wanted to say I love This Is True!
Posted by: sobo in Yakima, Washington | January 23, 2007 4:05 PM
Fantastic photos.
One question from the other side of the world: the description of the casualty as 'the victim' interests me. Is this usual terminology for casualties of accidents, natural disasters or similar events in your area?
I ask not from a judgemental point of view but purely from interest in the different use of language. Please don't think I'm being pedantic or overly critical; I'm not. I'm just a student of linguistics and can't help myself when I see an interesting usage.
---
No worries, mate. Yes, "casualty" is very rare here -- and is mostly used in the sense of "casualties of war". It's probably for that reason that people involved in accidents are typically called "victims" in the U.S. -rc
Posted by: Pat, Austalia | January 25, 2007 4:46 AM
I forget where this quote comes from: "Ice climbing is enjoyable only in retrospect."
I used to rock climb until a bad knee stopped me. Ice climbing always seemed *just a bit* over the line. Ice screws never seemed to me to be as strong as rock anchors.
I had heard the bit about stickers on plastic helmets. Sounds like one for the Mythbusters!!
Posted by: bandit - new mexico | April 11, 2007 1:57 PM