by Caleb Stento
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We all know it’s coming. Yes, it’s that time of year once again for ice climbing enthusiasts to descend upon Ouray and for climbers of all caliber to attempt to ascend the towering walls of ice in the Uncompahgre Gorge. It’s time for the 2012 Ouray Ice Festival.
Many spectators and climbing enthusiasts will gather to take in the shows, competitions and demos, and to score free swag. But, Ice Festival is not just for the hardcore climbers and pros. It’s a festival. “It’s meant to be fun,” stated Mike Macleod, a Ouray Ice Park, Inc. (OIPI) board member since 2008. This year OIPI is really making an effort to involve everyone, especially the local community. In past years the kids’ climbing college event has been popular. This year the adult walk-up wall provides an opportunity for everyone to give climbing a try. All equipment and safety gear is provided free of charge.
There are some pretty impressive numbers surrounding the festival this year; hundreds of named and mixed climbs, vertical climbing feet totaling three miles and 7500 linear feet of pipe used for ice making. These numbers truly are impressive. Another impressive figure is 200. This figure represents the approximate number of volunteers who will give their time at the festival. Many of these volunteers are local residents. “The bulk of the force is right here; there is a lot of camaraderie,” Macleod proudly stated.
Even though the ice park’s primary role belongs to Mother Nature, it is largely volunteer effort that makes this event possible. “Volunteering is what makes this event run,” Kentee Pasek corroborated. Pasek is new to ice climbing and volunteers as this year’s Ouray Ice Festival Director. After trying climbing a time or two, she was hooked and encourages the community to get involved and try their hand at the sport.
This seems like the logical next step in the park’s evolution. It started as a playground for climbers, became a park, grew into a premier festival, provides a boost to local business and is now calling out to everyone to give it a try.
This year, volunteers are tasked with making ice, setting up tents, staffing the information booths, shoveling snow (if there is any) and running the nightly events around town. Some volunteers have a real passion for ice climbing and happily give of their time and resources. Others see the difference the festival has made to the local economy and wish to show their appreciation. “There was a time when we would sled across Main Street because the town was dead,” Pasek said.
Long gone are the days of a summer-only town where owners were forced to close up shop for the long winter. The Ice Park is changing all of that. “A lot of people believe in this thing, and that enhances the volunteer effort,” said local business owner Matt Genuit. He went on to say, “The effort put forth by local volunteers reflects how important the Ice Festival is to the community.”
Naturally, as the festival gets bigger and bigger, logistical challenges increase. Another increasingly difficult challenge is sticking to the festival’s grassroots beginnings while at the same time living up to the billing of a premier event of its kind. It really seems that the biggest factor in cementing the festival in its roots is the dedication supplied by an army of volunteers.
Really, the ice park is one big free playground. What better way to say thanks than with a donation of our most precious commodities, time and energy. Something to keep in mind; without volunteers the park probably wouldn’t run smoothly. Without the park, locals would likely once again sled across Main Street without worry.