Ogden pledges money for ice-climbing tower

[jumar]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3615173

Ogden pledges money for ice-climbing tower
June 25th, 2008 @ 8:34am

OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- Ogden wants to build an ice-climbing tower, the latest attraction for a city striving to become a high-adventure hub.

The City Council allocated $100,000 toward the $1.6 million project on Tuesday.

Mayor Matthew Godfrey says the city's support will encourage private donors to step forward.

City officials say a foundation they declined to identify has agreed to contribute $400,000 to the tower. Commercial naming rights could bring another $500,000 for the venue.

Jeff Lowe, a renowned ice climber and executive director of Ogden Climbing Parks, would operate the tower.

Information from: Standard-Examiner

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[tanya]

Sounds Fun!

[Brian in SLC]

Sounds Fun!

Sounds kinda silly to me.

Kind of along the same lines as folks who wonder if I've climbed the wall at REI, or, the matterhorn at Disneyland.

Goes right along with air and fake water surfing though. So, should fit right into the Ogden "high adventure" scene.

We have some amazing "natural" ice climbing here in Utah. I can't see "fake" ice being a viable commodity. But, who knows?

It ain't Ouray, that's for sure.

The only water ice I want to see in a Utah summer is the stuff in my gin and tonic...

-Brian in SLC

[climbinghalfdome]

Sounds Fun!

Sounds kinda silly to me.

Kind of along the same lines as folks who wonder if I've climbed the wall at REI, or, the matterhorn at Disneyland. I can't see "fake" ice being a viable commodity. But, who knows?
-Brian in SLC

If its vertical Styrophome then it will be a waste of a lot of $$ cuz only the REI wall set will shell out bread to climb it. I worked at a Gym with the stuff in Pocatello while going to school. Feels good, yet most folks just looked at it.
If they are farming the ice like in Ouray, then I'd go for sure.
Sounds to me like the town isn't trying to make $ off of the deal, just draw interest and buzz. Its interesting that the 1.6 million is going to this kind of cause. Why not build a University in Nepal or medical clinic in Patigonia?
Wonder if its so bad, why Jeff Lowe has attached his name to it?
Kevin

[Sombeech]

I guess as long as it brings revenue to Ogden, no matter what type of wall it is, will be good.

[Brian in SLC]

If they are farming the ice like in Ouray, then I'd go for sure.

Nah, leftover from the X games or some such (or the design is).

http://www.ogdenclimbingparks.com/pa...Ice_Tower.html

Wonder if its so bad, why Jeff Lowe has attached his name to it?

Home town boy, nothin' better to do? Ha ha.

Its not that its "so bad", I just don't see it being that viable. Kinda like having a rock climbing gym membership when you have rock climbing nearby. Makes some sense if your overhead is low, but, the cost of keeping an ice tower climbable especially in non winter months would be huge.

As far as farming, I think they've tried some of that in near Mahlens, but, its south facing and just doesnt' stick around. Too warm (aspect and elevation are missing). Season is short, too.

Ouray is popular because it makes sense there. The gorge always had ice climbing, and, there's world class ice climbing outside the gorge nearby too.

Anyhoo, will be interesting to watch. And, not all revenue streams are "good" for a community, IMHO.

-Brian in SLC