Ice Conditions Report 2-20-23

February 20, 2023February 20, 2023 Bill

Now that the dust has somewhat settled from Ice Fest it is time to get back to our conditions report! Immediately after the fest we experienced a warm up and thought for sure that we would loose some of our pillars. The good news is that our normal winter temperatures have returned and the ice is quite nice! This past holiday weekend we saw many climbers up and down Sand Point Road which is a good thing but remember there is great ice to climb, many formations still untouched this season, scattered throughout the park. Also a friendly reminder, there is no parking along Sand Point Road so please drive all the way down to the parking lots! If you are planning a trip up you should find excellent conditions both in the front and back country locations.

Grand Island is still inaccessible due to open water and very thin lake ice. We aren’t giving up on the island quite yet but it is not looking good for any climbing out there. Be sure to check our website of social media channels for the latest ice conditions reports. If your group needs to rent gear Down Wind Sports in Munising offers Ice Gear rentals and are open 7 days a week. Check out the rental details here!

Weather and ice conditions can change hourly and what may appear to be “good conditions” to one climber may not be so to another. Please remember that just because a conditions report says that a particular climb is “in”, each individual is ultimately responsible for making his/her own climbing decisions.

At Michigan Ice we take pride in being your go to site for current ice climbing conditions for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as well as climbs throughout the Upper Peninsula. Planning a trip to Pictured Rocks? We have you covered for all the latest snow and ice conditions on all of your favorite climbs. We also offer a full guide service and are currently booking guided ice climbing trips for the 22/23 season! Check back often for updates, pictures, and trip reports!

Ice Conditions Report 1-30-23 Finally Someone Turned Off The Heat!

January 30, 2023January 30, 2023 Bill

*Emily Gantner at Miners Falls. PC Erik Olsen*

Well, we finally got the cold spell everyone has been hoping for and just in time for Ice Fest- better late then never! We are only a few days into it but we are already seeing great progress in the formation of our pillars.

Front Country

The front country has been seeing a lot of action on the weekends and some of the Sand Point Road classics are just now beginning to fill in. No Boundaries, The Dryer Hose, The Curtains, Prelude Curtain are all growing and should be bigger by next weekend. Our guess is most climbable formations will be in by next weekend!

Back Country

Looks like area legend and Pictured Rocks pioneer Paul Kuenn was out exploring the back country and found a few newly formed pillars. He also reported Dairyland is almost formed with the main sheet of ice being five feet from touching down. Pillars continue to grow but not all are in yet.

Reports from the backcountry of climbs that are in include AGF, Bridalveil, The Rim, Rappin Ice, HMR, On The Rocks, and After Midnight. Giddy Up was reported that it was not climbable this past weekend.

After Midnight, HMR , On The Rocks
PC Eddy Rickettson

Our forecast heading towards Ice Fest week is looking very promising. Cold temperatures and fresh snow are on the way and should be exactly what we need to get the back country pillars in shape to climb.

If you are heading up this way and you forgot your long undies or that ratty belay parka is not cutting it, be sure to stop by Down Wind Sports in Munising to pick up any last minute items, gear rentals or beta!

Please be mind full that this season, formations are extremely delicate and knocking any pillars down at this point may take a month to reform.

Ice Conditions Report 1-23-23

January 23, 2023January 23, 2023 Bill

Finally, a weather forecast we can celebrate! Looks like overnight temps will be favorable to building ice all week. Many of your favorite pillars have formed this past week but still remain thin and potentially unstable. That may just change by the weekend!

Over in Marquette the Ice Fest Organizers got in some laps at the Wolf’s Den before the Michigan Ice Fest Volunteer meeting. Due to heavy wet snow the standard line was pretty think and the mixed line had the most ice in it that we have seen in a long time.

Ice conditions continue to improve in the park with Three Sisters, a Swamp Thing, now touching down having steep difficult climbing. The Dryer Hose is formed but is open near the top. Folks should stay off it this week as it is fragile so that it has a chance to form up nice and solid for this weekend.

We have been getting many inquiries about access to Grand Island. Unfortunately, the lake ice has not begun to form yet so there is no access to the climbing out on the island for the unforeseeable future. Hard to look across that water at the amazing climbing and not be able to get to it. Hopefully with this cold spell we will start to see some lake ice and be able to hit the island later in the season.

Please be mind full that Munising early season formations are extremely delicate and knocking any pillars down at this point may take a month to reform. BEFORE MAKING THE LONG DRIVE UP– please call Down Wind Sports for up to the minute conditions: (906) 387-8020

Ice Conditions Report 1-16-23

January 16, 2023January 16, 2023 Bill

The National Geographic Magazine, August 1921 issue featured a story called “The Wild Life of Lake Superior, Past and Present,” Here people explore a sandstone cave near what is now known as Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Even in 1921 folks were out hunting for ice! This holiday weekend was no exception as many climbers were scouring the park looking for climbable ice. The 38 degree temperatures certainly didn’t help with building formations but the traditional seeps are not great but holding their own. Reports of climbs seeing some action were, Prelude Curtain, Opening Curtain, Boomer Falls, The Curtains, Drake Seep, Big Pine Pillar, Lakeshore Curtains, Totally Todd, and Mini Me. There are some more unnamed seeps that are climbable along the Lakeshore Trail from Intersection Falls heading northeast.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is IMG-8862-1-1024x854.jpg — The Grotto

Hopefully we can break this mild weather pattern soon but it looks like we will have to endure two more days of warmer temperatures before we are getting into some ice building weather. Here’s to crossing our fingers for those overnight lows of 10 degrees next weekend!

Ice Conditions Report 1-10-23

January 10, 2023January 10, 2023 Bill

Not to sound like a broken record but not much has changed in the last week as the Upper Peninsula is still experiencing warmer than normal temperatures. We have received snow which is good as we need the snow to melt a bit during the day and then freeze over night to build up the ice formations, and more importantly to form the ice pillars that Munising is so famous for.

Lets start with the good news! HMR was climbed by Michigan Ice Fest Guides Colton Harris and Tyler Davis a few days ago and they reported great ice and that it was fat! There are climbs in the back country to be found and like the front country, if the are seeps, they are climbable.

The front country is pretty much the same as it was last week. Seeps are the only thing climbable right now and they include Prelude Curtains, Opening Curtains, Boomer Falls, 2 lines at The Curtains, Drake Seep, The School Room, Big Pine Pillar, and Lakeshore Curtains.

Also as a reminder there is other great ice climbing in the U.P. including a few climbs in Marquette and quite a few places in the Keweenaw Peninsula. These locations can be found in the guide book, An Ice Climbers Guide to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Most of the climbs outside of Munising tend to be seeps, which are what is in, and are certainly fun to climb in a beautiful wilderness setting.

Ice Conditions Report- 1-6-23

January 6, 2023January 9, 2023 Bill

It was a tough week for building ice in Munising. Heavy wet snow and warm temperatures blanketed the Upper Peninsula this past week and put lots of water into our streams and watershed. The effect of this is that many of the pillars and waterfalls are now blown out. Some seeps are still climbable such as Lakeshore Curtains, Big Pine Pillar, School Room, Drake Seep, Opening Curtains and Prelude Curtain. With the heavy snow, if you are heading into the backcountry snowshoes will be needed! An exception is that a group from Ohio has packed in the Lakeshore Trail to Cliffs Campsite, the route to Dairyland. The good news is that a report came in from a party that HMR is in as is FAT!

Ice Conditions Report- 12-26-22

December 26, 2022December 26, 2022 Bill

Well Santa delivered the good to the Upper Peninsula this past weekend! Munising received over 30 inches of snow during the weekend blizzard. While this sets us up for an amazing winter, the blowing snow has created severe drifting. That means if you are coming up this week you will have to plan accordingly as trails have not been packed in to most of the backcountry climbs.

The other good news is that we have had our first stretch of colder temperatures and the pillars are starting to touch down! Low flow climbs such as the Dryer Hose are in but it will take a bit more time for the higher flow pillars like Giddy Up to be climbable. The traditional seeps along Sand Point Road are coming along nicely but still relatively thin.

Because Michael Ganley wants to know, The Dryer Hose has formed and has seen a few ascents this week. This is good news as the backcountry pillars that are similar to the Hose but taller can’t be far behind!

*Colton Harris on the sharp end. Dryer Hose 12-25-22*

Ice Conditions Report 12-19-22 Game On!

December 19, 2022December 19, 2022 Bill

Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus! Finally the cold temperatures we have all been waiting for are finally here. The weeklong forecast looks amazing and seeps and pillars are sure to freeze up and grow this week! Yesterday Pictured Rocks saw the first action of the season on climbs other than HMR.

Angela M on The School room PC John Miller

Right now there are a mixed bag of front country and back country climbs available to swing some tools into. Seeps are coming in and are the best bet for climbable ice next weekend. Pillars are still not safe to climb yet but that may change by the holiday weekend. (Sweet Mother Moses was not touching down yesterday). Please use extreme caution on any pillars- let them go, let them grow! While most seeps are thin, a few that froze up enough to climb included The School Room, Lake Shore Curtains and climbers left of Bridal Veil Falls.