I-70 Sickle (1) - Just Hiking

Statistics

Date - 01/31/2021
Elevation - 9,400'
Route - I-70 SIckle
Miles - 0.4
Elevation Gain - 400'
ACME Mapper - Link
CalTopo - Link
Partners - Brian Kooienga

Description

I have driven by and looked at this piece of ice for years. There had been a little activity online about people climbing it without any parking or ticket issues. As a result, Brian and I decided to finally check it out and give it a go. After the first pitch that is easily visible from the road, there is a bit of scrambling and rambling to get to the second pitch. The line we climbed on the second pitch was a bit sun-baked, but the protection got better the higher you climbed.

We rappelled the top pitch and then walked-off to the base of the climb in order to avoid the ice bouldering in between pitches. We each led the first pitch again for fun and then called it a day. It is a bit unfortunate that the climb is located so close to the highway and there is supposedly a possibility of being ticketed. Both pitches offer solid climbing.

Photos

The first pitch of I-70 Sickle.

James Just

Brian Kooienga following pitch 1.

The right side of the second pitch.

The left side of the second pitch.

Brian Kooienga

Abseiling