The Ouray Ice Park opened Wednesday, with staffers declaring “it’s thin but it’s in.” The area pictured here is in the Scottish Gullies section of the park. While the ice park has typically been able to open in mid to late December, this year’s opening was hindered by warm temperatures and the inability to make ice. While the ice farmers were able to build a foundation for the park after Thanksgiving, a warm spell melted an estimated 75% of their work by January. Cooler temperatures in the past two weeks helped the park rebuild ice, after Ouray Ice Fest leaders declared they were planning to have an iceless festival. Photo by Erin McIntyre | Ouray County Plaindealer
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ICE FARMERS GET THEIR CROP
A long-awaited cold snap allows Ice Park to open, just in time for festival
After weeks of planning for the worst, the Ouray Ice Park has ice to offer after all, just in time for the 31st Ice Festival this weekend.
Ice Park Executive Director Peter O’Neil has spent the past two weeks religiously checking the forecast, praying temperatures would drop and remain low after a stretch of impossibly warm winter weather precluded ice farmers from making climbable ice and opening the park, which is normally crawling with climbers in December.
But O’Neil’s prayers — and th...
