What do you think about this new Ice Fest shuttle to Grand Island?  Ice Fest friend Ed Schneiderhan of Houghton made the pilgrimage to Grand Island in style!  What an amazing way to scout your climbs and cut down your approach times.

Needless to say it was another banner weekend for climbing.  Virtually all of the climbs are still in with the exception of climbs exposed to the direct sun (East Channel and most of the West Shore of Grand Island).  Head to the mainland where the climbs are protected from the sun and you will still find phenomenal ice to climb. Reports came in that climbs from Sand Point to Dairyland are still in and climbable.

 

Source: Conditions

 

Another stellar weekend in the U.P. and perfect spring ice climbing conditions!  Sunny and warm temperatures during the day and below freezing temps at night continue to provide optimal climbing days.  This weekend reports came in of great conditions on: Dairyland, Midnight Rambler, Giddy Up, Hi Ho Silver, Sweet Mother Moses, School Room, No Boundaries, The Dryer Hose and the Curtains.  The only climb reported to be unclimbable is the Amphitheater which the small pillar touching down is detached from the upper curtain above.

 

The lake ice is still solid out to Grand Island from the public launch to the island.  Conditions of the climbs remain sun baked but adventurous climbers can still find shaded routes to have fun on.

 

Don’t put those tools away yet…..look at that forecast!  Should be an awesome weekend in Munising so grab a friend and head on up for some amazing climbing!

Source: Conditions

What a perfect weekend for spring climbing!  Warm temperatures, sunshine and soft ice greeted climbers trying to close out their season with a few more laps on their favorite routes.  On the mainland, reports came in the Dairyland, Suck It Up, Midnight Rambler, and Sweet Mother Moses all were climbed.  All climbs along Sand Point Road are also in very good shape.  Obviously this time of year conditions can change quickly so please assess each climb carefully before committing to climbing them.

Michigan Ice Fest Guides took a day off and traveled out to Grand Island to bask in the sunshine and tag a few classic routes.  The lake ice from the Grand Island public launch is good up to the Playboy Club and then becomes VERY DANGEROUS! Pack ice has blown in and has refrozen making for very thin ice that is camouflaged with light snow. Three of our four party actually punched through the ice so we roped up for safety.

The ice on the West Shore is susceptible to the intense sun and we found any climb that was in the direct sun light was sun baked and unclimbable.  Any climb that was protected from the sun had soft solid ice and offered enjoyable leads.

 

If you are planning on going to Grand Island I would recommend traveling from the public access and traveling inland and access the climbs from the top.  Please note that nothing exposed to the sun is solid!  Climb the gullies or far corners of the ice as many of the formations are beginning to fall.

Source: Conditions