The Scoop On Ouray’s Favorite Ice Cream Lady: Dawn Glanc Of Brown Chicken Brown Cow

Dawn Glanc spent much of her life with crampons on her feet and an ice tool in each hand, pushing her limits as a professional ice climber and helping clients push theirs as a guide.

Members of the climbing community, especially in Ouray, where she lives, know her for her accomplishments and dedication to the sport. But now, everyone in town knows Glanc for a different reason.

Photos by Brooke Warren/brooklynwarren.com

“I’ve embraced this new role as being the ice cream lady,” she says.

On any given day, Glanc may be spotted on Main Street handing out free samples or serving special flavors at events with a big smile on her face. After all, having fun is what her company Brown Chicken Brown Cow is all about. And, she says, it’s not the kind of fun you feel after an energy-sapping climb that’s tough in the moment and fun when you look back. It’s just fun, and it’s for everybody.

A SWEET PIVOT

COVID-19 changed the rules of the climbing business, as it did for many industries, giving Glanc time to pursue other passions. As she puts it, “Like everyone, I was in the midst of a mid-life crisis.”

With life moving at a slower pace, she signed up for an online cooking class, giving her a chance to explore her lifelong interest in the food industry. Ironically, while Glanc was never an ice cream lover herself, a simple no-churn recipe from her dessert module became the dish that changed everything.

Just a few ingredients form the base of the ice cream, but once Glanc started bringing it to parties, she realized the possibilities were endless. (She won’t give the secret away so easily, but her ingredients are listed on the products as required by law.)

It started with a request for ginger snap from her husband, and the rest is history.

By late 2022, Glanc perfected her base and a few flavors, and was ready to go commercial. Kami’s Samis at 636 Main St. gave her the boost she needed by providing her commercial kitchen space and a spot to sell her products.

GROWING ONE SCOOP AT A TIME

Glanc tackles ice cream making with the precision of an ice climber, specializing in a smooth, flawlessly creamy base, occasional chunky add-ins and thoughtful seasonal flavors. And, of course, staples like Ginger Snap, which became an early favorite and remains on shelves under possible penalty of Glanc being tarred and feathered.

Just over three years after selling her first cups in Kami’s, Glanc’s signature blue and green packaging can be found in over 15 freezers throughout Ouray, Montrose and San Miguel counties. Ouray Grocery, Ridgway Mountain Market and Bluecorn Cafe & Mercantile in Montrose are just a few spots to score the goods.

After securing so many customers, Glanc was able to build an FDA-approved kitchen in her home last summer. With the extra time and space, she can put even more of a personal touch on each flavor, baking mix-ins like cookies and carrot cake from scratch. Even so, she says, “It’s still a one-woman show.”

Though Glanc loves to see the business grow, she has two non-negotiables for how it does so. Brown Chicken Brown Cow will always be based in Ouray, and Glanc won’t hire anyone until she can provide a stable position with a fair wage.

She remains an active part of the city and climbing communities, and she’s known to offer free samples or special flavors at local events, and sponsors a small team of athletes with a sweet supply of ice cream and stickers.

“It’s been a different way to be part of the community,” she says.

And the products are for everybody, as Glanc makes vegan and other dairy-free options to meet all her customers’ needs.

When she started selling ice cream, Glanc opted for distributing 5-ounce and 16-ounce disposable containers to partner locations as a matter of necessity; opening her own shop seemed out of reach. Luckily, Glanc is a climber. After seeing how much people enjoy her ice cream, her new goal is to open a colorful storefront downtown where she can be the “ice cream lady” behind the counter and deliver smiles with every scoop.

brownchickenbrowncowicecream.com

Originally published in the summer 2026 issue of Spoke+Blossom.