Salewa Debuts At This Years Fest!

European-based Salewa has been outfitting alpine adventurers for over 75 years, and now brings its groundbreaking and innovative all-mountain footwear to the Michigan Ice Fest!. Salewa offers shoes and boots for technical approach, mountaineering, trekking, and  speed-hiking that provide outstanding flexibility, fit, and support. Salewa’s advanced technologies and versatile, multi-sport designs enable you to traverse rocks, snow, technical trails, via ferrata, and any other terrain in security and comfort.

Adding to an already impressive demo line up- Salewa will be bringing their latest ice climbing boots for participants to try.

 

Pro Gaitor Mounatineering Boot

From mixed climbing to vertical ice, this rugged, four-season boot features an embedded aluminum stay in the heel that tightens or loosens at the turn of a key to switch between walk mode and a rigid climbing mode. No longer do your feet need suffer on the approach.

  • Lightweight Schoeller Super Fabric upper resists abrasion and moisture while maintaining breathability
  • Included Allen wrench lets you easily tighten or loosen the clearly labeled sole tension system depending on whether you’re walking or climbing
  • Waterproof breathable membrane keeps your feet dry and comfortable
  • Thinsulate 400 insulation traps heat so you don’t have to drop out of a multi-pitch ordeal to hold your toes over a fire
  • Salewa 3F system locks down your heel for a blister-free fit
  • Standard lacing with speed hooks and glove-friendly waterproof zipper pull makes for easy operation and the custom fit you’re used to
  • Top seals off with elastic, anatomic collar and secure lock
  • Full rubber rand adds durability and protection
  • Durable, grippy Vibram Salewa Pro outsole features aggressive lugs that offer a high level of grip on mud and snow when you’re not stepping into a crampon Climbing toe profile offers edging performance


Be sure to stop by Sydney’s and check out a pair of Salewa boots sometime over the weekend….your feet will thank you!  Michigan Ice Fest is proud to welcome Salewa to our event!

 

Black Diamond- Gold Level Sponsor Returns For Another Michigan Ice Fest

For years Black Diamond has been very generous by sending double the amount of demo gear that other festivals receive,  so that all of our participants can test out the latest and greatest ice climbing gear.  BD, like our other Gold Sponsors, has sent amazing athletes to our event  ensuring that we get the highest quality instructors, and are entertained in the evening with inspiring stories of climbing around the world.   This year BD  has teamed up with Arc’Teryx and has graciously agreed to send Will Gadd.

Will Gadd

I grew up in a family that hiked, climbed and went into the mountains whenever they could. Some of my earliest memories are of long backpacking trips, wind-blown summits and surviving winter skip trips. The first sport I really got into on my was caving. When I was 14 I started kayaking. At 16 I bought my first climbing rope, and did my first new rock route. At 25 I first flew a paraglider. At 41 my daughter came into the world. She’s already doing all the stuff I did as a kid, and she’s an athlete too.  Some of Will’s exploits include:

-Establishing the hardest mixed ice climbing lines in the world.

-Setting the world distance record for paragliding. Twice. 423 km (263 miles) the second time.

-Kayaking down dozens of first ascents across North America.

-Winning the Canadian National Sport-Climbing Championships. Four times.

-Winning three gold medals at the X Games. And the Ice Climbing World Cup.

-Winning the US and Canadian Paragliding Nationals.

-Flying my paraglider over the Grand Canyon.

-Climbing icebergs off the coast of Labrador with Ben Firth.

-Flying my paramotor across the USA with Jim Grossman.

-Using supplemental oxygen to explore high carbon-dioxide caves in Thailand.

-Ice climbing in underground mines in Sweden.

-First one-day ascent of the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, Mt. Robson. Solo.

-Climbing big new rock, ice and alpine routes all over the world.

-Surviving.

More on Will can be found here!

 

Don’t forget that Down Wind Sports will also feature a full selection of sweet Black Diamond gear at our on site retail shop.  Enjoy Will Gadd’s show then come on up and get geared up for your next adventure!

Black Diamond Stinger Crampon

It’s always exciting to see new gear being offered at the Michigan Ice Fest demo and this year we are super pyched to have the Black Diamond Stinger Crampon available for participants to try out!

Designed to tackle serious ice and mixed lines on winter crags and alpine faces the world over, the Black Diamond Stinger is the lightweight stainless steel crampon offered by Black Diamond, with a replaceable monopoint. An asymmetrical design fits the contours of modern mountain boots, and thin, low-profile heel and toe wires offer a precise fit for less weight.

 

  • Asymmetrical stainless steel design is lightweight, won’t rust and fits the contours of modern boots
  • Mono frontpoint is replaceable at low cost and can be changed quickly and easily in the field
  • Hooded frontpoint and aggressive secondary points are optimized for precise, secure placements
  • Low-profile micro-adjust heel level offers precision fit
  • Thin, low-profile toe bail and thinner, shorter heel wire for improved fit with modern boots
  • Includes front and rear dual-density ABS

 

 

 

Cobra Ice Axe

Oh-la-la!  This is the most aesthetically beautiful tool on the market.  Not only does it look good- it swings even better!  The ultimate carbon fiber tool for leashless mixed, ice and alpine climbing, the Black Diamond Cobra provides unparalleled performance from the crags to the Karakoram. The Cobra features a lightweight shaft that provides precise, technical swings and offers the most clearance of any of our tools-all without sacrificing balance or axis of rotation.

 

  • Lightweight carbon fiber shaft with greatest clearance of any Black Diamond tool
  • Balanced with weight in head for damp, accurate strikes
  • Laser Pick, Cobra Strike and Fang included, modular head design
  • Removable upper and lower pommels
  • Shaft CEN-T certified, patented
  • Pick is CEN-B


All these videos makes us want to go climbing!  We can extend the Ice Fest discount one week- call or email the store for your hook up!  Once again a big thank you goes out to Black Diamond for another year at being a Gold Level Sponsor!

Michigan Ice Fest Announces New Gold Sponsor- FITS Socks!

FITS Sock Co. products are designed to be the best fitting performance outdoor socks in the industry.  Over 100 years of experience has taught us to recognize the importance of careful, precise sock-fitting based more on total foot volume than foot length.  All FITS™ socks deliver unique benefits – thanks to superior construction, the highest quality materials, and innovative design.  Our socks are constructed from two-ply, compact-spun, ultra-fine Merino Wool, providing the ultimate blend of softness and durability.   Our F3 Technology delivers a unique form FIT thanks to a deep heel pocket, specialized toe seam, and contoured leg – which keep FITS socks firmly in place.  This means no more bunching, hot spots, or friction, regardless of the task at hand. Best yet these are American made socks!

Our staff has been climbing in these socks this winter and we absolutely love them!  Don’t miss out as we have a few surprises planned for FITS at Ice Fest- including FITS socks for Ice Fest participants!

Sterling Ropes Rock!

We really could not organize the Ice Fest without Sterling Ropes…….really.  Thanks to Sterling, the demo area is where many Midwest climbers have gotten their first ice climbing experience.  Why do we use their ropes?  We feel they are some of the best rope in the industry AND they are super durable- perfect for our demo site!   John Branagan of Sterling has also informed us that they are hooking us up with an Ion 9.4 60 meter Dry Rope to give out at Saturday evenings raffle!  Sterling representative Mark Wilford will be instructing and hanging out at the socials all weekend long and can answer any questions on Sterling Ropes.   Thanks so much to Sterling for all of your support!

The Ion2 is the largest diameter rope in the fusion range. It’s unique design is manufactured by first twisting multiple colored fibers into a single sheath-strand and then braiding the sheath to create the speckled pattern. It’s diameter is a great size for intermediate climbers looking to match a lightweight rope with performance while knowing that the diameter isn’t TOO thin for a beginner belayer.

For over sixteen years now, Sterling Rope has been designing and manufacturing the highest quality, most technically advanced rope and cord for climbing. Our ropes for climbing and outdoor are designed for their specific purpose and as such we offer a broad range of great ropes from which to choose. Sterling ropes are made to perform extraordinarily well in all conditions due to our unique DryCore™ and Better Braid Technology™. These processes give you incredibly durable ropes that are smaller in diameter, lighter, and better handling, as well as dry cores, designed to keep moisture out and performance up.

Sterling Rope spent years researching and testing various solutions and treatment processes. We developed a process, using our own proprietary coating, that greatly improves dry treatment of rope. Studies have shown that wet ropes are more difficult to handle and their dynamic performance is drastically reduced. Our dry treated ropes provide an additional safety factor for alpinists, especially on ice, mixed ground and in winter. Protecting the rope from water absorption eliminates weight increase, risk of freezing in cold weather, and slows the wearing of the rope considerably.

In conventional ropes, it is usually only the sheath fibers that are dry-treated. Sterling Dry Ropes not only have a superior coating on the sheath, but also have DryCore standard on all its cores, reducing the ropes natural inclination to absorb moisture to greater levels. Sterling’s Arid system ensures a more effective and durable water resistance, while improving handling, resistance to friction, dirt, and durability.

Don’t forget we will have a full selection of Sterling Ropes at Ice Fest Headquarters at special pricing so you can take one home to send your next project!  Check out all of the fantastic product that Sterling produces by clicking here!

 

Petzl Returns To Ice Fest

For years Petzl has been very generous by providing crampons, ice axes, helmets, and harnesses to make sure our demo is a huge success.  Petzl, like our other Gold Sponsors, has also sent amazing prizes for the Saturday evening raffle.  Another opportunity for participants is to “pick the brains” of the manufacturers reps that will be on hand to answer any questions on gear.  Be sure to corner Petzl representative Bryan Kuhn sometime during the weekend and find out what is new with Petzl!

 

Nomic

The Nomic allows the entire rock climbing repertoire to be transferred to ice. Thanks to its adjustable ergonomic handle, it offers multiple grip modes and limits the risk of snagging when switching hands. The ice pick allows easy penetration in any type of ice, and pulls out easily. The modular head has two removable pick weights to balance the axe and propel it into the ice with an exceptional swing. The Nomic can also be equipped with a hammer when placing pitons.

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the full line up of Petzl tools that will be at this years Ice Fest!

 

Lynx Crampons

Last year we practically had people fighting over these crampons at the demo!  The long anticipated offering from Petzl is a phenomenal technical ice climbing crampon.  From snow couloirs to dry tooling, the Lynx is a super versatile crampon. The modular front points allow for many options: dual or mono-point, long or short, and/or asymmetrical. They come with two types of interchangeable front bindings to adapt to boots with or without toe welts.

Thanks Petzl for committing to support Mid West ice climbers and sending Bryan to this years Michigan Ice Fest!

Ice Fest Gold Sponsor Scarpa

For years Scarpa has been very generous by sending huge amounts of demo gear so that participants can test out the latest and greatest ice climbing gear.  Scarpa, like our other Gold Sponsors, has sent amazing athletes to our event  ensuring that we get the highest quality instructors, and are entertained in the evening with inspiring stories of climbing around the world.   This year Scarpa is  graciously sending Fabrizio Zangrilli.

 

Fabrizio is 38 years old, lives in Boulder, Colorado and has been climbing for 22 years. His climbing has taken him around the world, attempting and putting up new routes or speed ascents in the Himalaya, Alaska, Patagonia and Queen Maud Land, Antarctica – to name just a few of his expeditions. He has guided and or led expeditions to Everest, K2 (5 times) Makalu, Cho Oyu and the Gasherbrums, Nuptse South Face, Ama Dablam (5 times), Pumori and Cerro Torre. Fabrizio is one of the few climbers to go from K2 base Camp, 5000m, to camp 4, 7900m, and back to base camp in a day (36 Hours). His main belief is speed is safety in the mountains, and really enjoys helping clients reach their goals!  You can follow Fabrizio’s adventures here!

 

 


Phantom Guide

Besides sending Fabrizio, Scarpa will be supporting our event by sending their demo fleet of top notch ice boots.  As you might know, our demos are an opportunity to try out the leading ice climbing manufacturers gear- so take some time out of the weekend and give one of our personal favorites- the Phantom Guide, a try.

From HMR to the west shore of Grand Island, the Scarpa Phantom Guide is a lightweight alpine climbing boot for all your ice climbing and mountaineering needs. The Phantom has an ErgoFit system that allows you to flex your feet naturally so you can get a better grip on small rock flakes when you’re ascending technical terrain.

    • PrimaLoft lightweight insulation and multilayer upper adds warmth when you’re hitting the ice
    • Waterproof t-zip and integrated gaiter provide protection from the elements so you can climb hard all day long
    • Synthetic Cordura uppers with a DWR coating provide dryness inside of the t-zip
    • Quick lace system can be tightened or loosened easily with cold fingers or gloves
    • ErgoFit sole allows your foot to flex naturally
    • Midsole construction uses microporous polyurethane to improved shock absorption and durability
    • Tough Vibram TT sole for superior grip and traction on variable alpine terrain

Thanks Scarpa for committing to support Mid West ice climbers and sending Fabrizio to this years Michigan Ice Fest!

Just Added! Rigging and Rescue Clinic With Ben Erdmann

Photo credit AlpineEndeavors
We are very fortunate to have a deverse group of instructors this year and Ben Erdmann has offered to instruct a Rigging and Rescue clinic!  Make sure you take advantage of this interesting and informational clinic.
RESCUE AND RIGGING CLINIC FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1ST 10:00am $120.00
While none of us plan on getting hurt while climbing, it is important to plan and practice what to do in the event it happens. In this clinic we will cover basics for high-angle rescue that are applicable to many of the ice climbs we find in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area. A number of the falls require the climber to rappel in and climb out, in the event of an injury or bad conditions making ascent difficult, it is required that the person is either hauled out or is able to ascend the ropes to reach the top.
Some of the techniques and concepts we will cover:
-scene size-up and patient handling
-rigging of a mechanical advantage system for hauling a casualty
-ascension
We will focus on a minimalistic approach to the equipment used. The gear and techniques will form the foundation for rigging and rescue in glacier travel and more complex multi-pitch rescues.
While its a serious subject, we are certainly going to have plenty of fun!  To sign up please call 906-226-7112