With winter moving in, thought that we would post two older videos that were originally on the website. Both highlight the "Sick-le" formation that occurs at an old section of limestone quarry located high up on the ridge. There's a prior post from a few years back with some narrative and images. We didn't go back into the "archives" to search for it, or we would have posted a link. It's back there, though.
'The Sick-le' (2007)
Run Time 6 min (approx.)
'Collapse of the Sick-le' (2009)
Run Time 11 min (approx.)
The "Sick-le" is a pretty spectacular ice formation for our "neck of the woods". It's about 100ft tall ground to top. The upper section is a huge, detached, free hanging column which overhangs the wall by about 5ft. A good winter it probably forms for a length of 30ft. A spectacular winter it would be a completely detached column touching the ground. We've never seen that - we're waiting for the theoretical Earth crust displacement anticipated for around year 2030 to shove us to a bit higher latitude and better winter conditions - presuming that the ancient's stellar clocks are correct.
The first video, The Sick-le, highlights climber Tim Anderson, assisted by Doyle Tarwater, on first ascent done on top-rope. Tim was afterward "chompin' at the bit" to get a lead attempt. Conditions were soon out within the week, so he'd now be lookin' at the following winter at best - the Sick-le to loom like Melville's "white whale" 'till then. In the interim - how to protect that thing? Considering that there was no way to ever assess the stability of the column, the plan was to place one bolt in the bare limestone rock at the initial airy traverse move out onto the "face" and another near the top. No way was one to trust ice screws. Worst scenario, he'd be looking at a potential 60ft fall on to the lower bolt after riding the distance airborne on the back of a several ton block of ice. Any screws beyond that point, out on the face, and he'd surely be Ahab lashed to his leviathan. The second video, Collapse of the Sick-le, was the following year (and only that we know of) lead attempt, assisted by his wife, Laura. The title of the video says it all. This was at the end of a several day late February freeze and formation and the only and last opportunity during that winter.
Suffice to say, subsequent to that first ascent on top-rope we can't recall an extended spell of winter weather conditions for the Sick-le to sufficiently re-form to any extent. The lower bolt is in place for anyone to give it a try, though, when it returns.
We're posting this information only for purpose of antiquity and our perpetual devotion to "duty and humanity". We're not prompting anyone to go into that place. Since around the early 2010's everyone's gotten a bit older and has slowly drifted from the "scene". We have no idea what others have been up to, if anything at all. Last we drove by (a few years back) there had been several recent "No Trespassing" signs posted along the tree line.
Tim and Laura
Overlooking some awesome ice during a good winter
Viewing south from the north end of the quarry wall. The Sick-le is visible to the near with the rope running down.
Tim on a big mixed route during a sketchy winter.
Doyle and Tim posing beneath some "Gun Club" ice.
Regrettably, Doyle has passed away a year or two recent
Good climbing with ya' Doyle - see ya' in the next dimension.
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