Gimps On Ice
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Malcolm Daly at the Ouray Ice Park, Colorado.Photo by Kitt Daly courtesy of www.paradoxsports.org
Gimps On Ice is a reality! After dreaming about “Gimps” for almost a year it’s finally going to happen. On March 7, 8, and 9 of 2008 a gathering of amputees, paraplegics and normals —Team Paradox — will spend the weekend learning about “disabled” ice climbing. Our goal is to have fun, get sweaty, get pumped and learn all there is about ice climbing. Here are the details:
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Date: March 7,8 and 9
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Location: Ouray Ice Park, Ouray, Colorado
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Lodging Donated by: Ouray Victorian Inn
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Cost: $50 to cover food
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Number of people: 10 total
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Basic rock climbing experience necessary!
Unfortunately, ice climbing for people in chairs is a cold and wet proposition so we want to limit our first program to amputees. Vijay has volunteered to be our crash-test-dummy and is coming in his chair. We will learn a lot and perhaps be able to open up Gimps On Ice next year for chairs. The San Juan Mountain Guides and/or Paradox Sports will provide boots, crampons, ice tools, harnesses and helmets. If you have any of these items yourself please bring them with you. We have two days of climbing scheduled, Saturday and Sunday. Please plan on arriving on Friday night before 7:00. I’ll make a couple of lasagnas and a salad. We’ll be done around 3 on Sunday. We’re going to try to cook all our own meals except for a Saturday night dinner out..I’ll bring some crampon/feet for you to try. See the picture. Bring:
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Winter climbing or skiing clothes. Warning:pant legs get shredded.
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Bring something you don’t care about or a roll of duct tape.
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Harness, helmet if you have them
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Water bottle
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Thick gloves and thin gloves
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Hat
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Sunglasses
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Ski goggles
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Neck gaiter
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Sunscreen (March is getting warm)
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Bandana
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Snack food
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Swim Suit (The Ouray hot springs are great.)
It’s usually pretty good rock climbing in Ouray in March so you might want to throw in your rock shoes and other personal gear (Ropes, draws, etc.) Vijay Viswanathan (720-244-4272, kayakervj@mac.com) is coordinating Gimps on Ice. Please contact him to register. Questions should be addressed to Vijay or myself. Since the space is limited to 10 people please sign up as soon as possible in order to guarantee a spot.