In case you have not heard, the new ice climbing guidebook, An Ice Climbers Guide To Munising Michigan Michigan will finally arrive just before Ice Fest. That is a cause for celebrating! Come join guidebook authors Jon Jugenheimer and Bill Thompson for the unveiling of this much anticipated guidebook, Thursday night of Ice Fest at Sydneys!
Burr On A Boat, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Andrew Burr photo
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has been called one of the premier ice climbing areas in the country. Nestled on the southern shore of Lake Superior, it is renowned for its beautiful setting and phenomenal ice routes. This edition An Ice Climbers Guide To Munising Michigan offers the most thorough and up-to-date information, maps, and descriptions of the major ice climbing formations.
Peter Vintoniv, Twin Towers WI4, Mosquito Beach, Lake Superior National Lakeshore, Munising, MI Andrew Burr photo
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!
For two years Sue Nott was an instructor for the Michigan Ice Fest teaching our women’s courses. Unfortunately, Sue was killed while attempting the Infinite Spur on Mt. Foraker in Alaska. In honor of Sue, Down Wind Sports has created the Sue Nott Scholarship Fund. The purpose of the scholarship is to promote, inspire, and introduce young females to the sport of ice climbing. Two scholarships will be awarded this year for females age 9-17 years old. The scholarship will include admission to the ice fest, instruction in the women’s course, as well as some other surprises!
A record number of girls applied this year and the selection committee had a difficult time narrowing the field down to two. This year we are proud to announce that the scholarships have been awarded to Madison Almquist and Rachel Hahn. The girls had to submit a one page written letter explaining why they are interested in ice climbing, a copy of their recent report card, and a letter of support from someone other then their parents. We are confident that both Rachel and Madison will do a fantastic job at Ice Fest! Congratulations Ladies!
Not only are we saying free beer- we’re going to throw in a free pint glass as well! When you register at the door our staff will be handing out Official Michigan Ice Fest stainless steel pint glasses (while supplies last).
One of the best things about attending the Michigan Ice Fest is the people. At Ice fest you will find men, women, children, first-time climbers and guys who get paid to climb. During the day everyone sort of does their thing, but in the evenings we pack everyone together in a room above Sydney’s and listen to the professionals tell us stories of their latest adventures. This is also a great time to meet new people or catch up with old friends.
We will kick off the festival on Thursday night 7pm with the “Participants Slide Show: Beers with Bill ” while enjoying a tasty beverage of choice with our own Bill Thompson of Down Wind Sports. If you have great pictures to show that you took, and just love, please submit them to Bill at downwindsports@gmail.com (in digital form please) and he will put them all together for the show. Feel free to cheer during the show for your personal favorites! Following Beers With Bill the evening will really take off with Ben Erdmann sharing his passion of wild places and climbing adventures!
Friday night at 6pm with Scarpa and Ames Adventure Outfitters will providing the refreshments. This night Joe Josephson and Fabrizio Zangrilli will be presenting.
Saturday night we will again get things going around 6pm but tonight Trango, and Montane will be around to help keep your mouth from drying out. On this night Zoe Hart and Will Gadd will be presenting.
A HUGE thank you goes out to Trango, Montane, Osprey, and Scarpa for sponsoring the climbing socials all weekend long! THANK YOU!!!!
MONTANE® is a British company that create technical clothing and equipment for mountainous and extreme environments. Founded almost 20 years ago, MONTANE® work with leading innovative expeditions to the worlds polar and mountainous regions, support athletes in climbing, polar exploration and endurance trail running and headline the world’s leading ultra-distance endurance events. MONTANE® is available in high quality specialist outdoor dealers across the USA.
Trango is a company built by climbers, for climbers. We are committed to bringing high quality, high performing products to the climbing world and are passionate about stewardship for the planet. Our brands include: Tenaya, eGrips, SMC, and PMI.
Scarpa Innovation and tradition share equally deep roots at SCARPA, which today remains a family owned company with its headquarters and performance footwear manufacturing facilities in the same regions of northern Italy where it got its start in 1938.
Founded in Asolo, in the Montebelluna region, an area long known for its quality, handcrafted footwear, SCARPA’s initial mission was to bring together all the best shoemakers in the Asolo area toward the goal of producing the best footwear anywhere. SCARPA stands for Società Calzaturiera Asolana Riunita Pedemontana Anonima, which means Associated Shoe Manufacturing Company of the Asolo Mountain Area.
Ames Adventure Outfitters is a Manufacturers’ Representative for top quality indoor & outdoor clothing and equipment, water proofing supplies, packs, tents, solar and monitoring devices, trail running, approach, and mountaineering shoes/boots, socks, and other accessories. The manufacturing firms that we represent consistently offer merchandise that leads the industry in new technology and are regularly awarded accordingly. It is our belief that outstanding customer service and integrity in all business transactions are essential for long term success in this industry.
Michigan Ice Fest is proud to announce that good friend Will Gadd will be joining us again (use Canadian accent when saying “again”) instructing our courses and headlining the Saturday evening presentations. We are so fortunate to have our Gold Sponsors Black Diamond Equipment and Arc Teryx sending Will to the event! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
All-round action hero Will Gadd is a living legend in the truest sense, continually pushing the boundaries of ice climbing after having won every major title from the World Cup to the Winter X Games.
A veteran of the sport, Will continues to seek new adventures and has boundless energy – not bad at all for the Canadian man now in his mid-forties. In 2010 he proved his pedigree once more by climbing a 130ft ice wall solidly for 24 hours at the Ouray Ice Festival in Colorado, reaching a total height of 25,414ft.
Eager to rise to a fresh challenge, Will also broke the world distance record on a paraglider not once, but three times. He was also the first person to cross the US by paraglider after a gruelling seven-week trek. His hunger for adventure doesn’t stop there – he can turn his hand to almost every outdoor sport and has been featured in the media for his numerous feats in rock and ice climbing, kayaking, mountaineering, caving, Nordic and Alpine skiing and mountain biking.
These days Will likes to set himself more creative challenges and has successfully climed icebergs off the coast of Labrador as well as conquering the longest vertical ice climb in Nepal. “I’ve done enough, won as much as I need to,” he says. “I’m at a point now where I feel like I have a lot less to prove. The coolest things are now beyond competition. All I want to do now is take high level skills and go to interesting places.”
Jon Jugenheimer leading the Dryer Hose photo Matt Abbotts
The 2012 Michigan Ice Fest is in the books and 337 participants were greeted with extremely mild temperatures and what turned out to be a lean ice year. Eight different states were represented this year with participants traveling as far as Kentucky and Colorado- coming to Munising to enjoy the camaraderie of Midwest climbers and the chance to climb at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The big story this year has been the weather and the randomness of what climbs were formed. Go figure…..the ultra classic Dairyland was in, but Memorial Falls was not, Sweet Mother Moses was in but Tannery Falls was not.
THURSDAY
New this year, the Fest started with an Introduction to Ice Course, and a Top Rope Anchor Course on Thursday where participants spent the day learning he tricks of the trade out at the Curtains. Many folks new to the Fest were excited to get out on the ice and a chance to climb the vertical pillars that are so common in the park.
We kicked off the festival on Thursday night with the first ever “Participants Slide Show: Beers with Bill” while enjoying a tasty beverage climbers were treated to a collection of slides submitted by Ice Fest participants and set to music.
Dirk VanKoughnett gettin' after it photo Christopher Lemon
FRIDAY
With temps still in the mid 30’s climbers hit the trails in search of ice. Several groups headed out to Miners Lake Falls, Miners Beach area as well as being dispersed along the lakeshore trail. The fest also saw an increase in rentals as many took advantage to check out gear and climb in small groups throughout the park. Two more courses, an Introduction to Ice Course, and a Top Rope Anchor Course were filled and went out for a day of instruction and climbing.
Friday evenings festivities started off with a climbing social and free beer sponsored by Ames Adventure Outdoors, Scarpa and Osprey. Due to a family illness, Roger Strong was unable to make it to last years Fest, but fortunately for us Gold Sponsor Arc Teryx sent Roger out this year to instruct and present. Roger thrilled the crowd with slides and video from his days as a crab captain on the first two seasons of the Discovery Channels Deadliest Catch, climbing ice bergs, ice routes in the northwest, and finally an amazing story of a serious ski accident he was involved in last year.
Because of a monster snowstorm in Colorado, perennial Ice Fest athlete Mark Wilford was unable to attend so our second slide show of the evening had to be cancelled. The rest of the evening you could find people browsing the booths of Bob The Mountaineer and Down Wind Sports looking to score a few deals!
SATURDAY
As usual we got the ball rolling early with equipment hand out for Ice Fest Courses. The Intro to Ice, Lead climbing, Women’s Intro to Ice and the Kids courses all filled up fast and participants were treated to instruction provided by Roger Strong, Barry Blanchard, and Vince Anderson. After getting the courses set and on their way it was time to hook up participants with demo gear. This year the line to pick up gear was exceptionally long running down stairs and winding through the restaurant. For the first time in Ice Fest history we were able outfit everyone who showed up to demo gear! All of our demo sponsors really stepped up this year by sending larger demo kits and it was certainly appreciated!
The Demo area at the Curtains also saw changes this year with a shortage of ice to climb. Most years we are able to hang ten ropes for participants to climb….this year we squeaked by with five ropes. Hundreds of climbers were challenged throughout the day with a variety of difficult climbs set up.
After a long day of climbing, everyone converged upon Sydney’s for the Saturday evening social and free beer provided by La Sportiva. With a standing room only crowd, our first presentation of the evening was from Vince Anderson. In 2005, Vince, along with Steve House pioneered a direct new route on the Rupal Face of 8126-meter (26,660-foot) Nanga Parbat. The 4100-meter (13,500-foot) face had never before been climbed in alpine style and their alpine-style ascent is one the boldest Himalayan ascents to date. Vince’s humor, delivery, and passion in telling this remarkable story was inspiring and had the crowd in awe. A huge thank you goes out to Gold Level sponsor Patagonia for sending Vince to the Fest!
Our final presentation of the night was from Ice Fest favorite Barry Blanchard. A fantastic story teller, Barry reminisced about past climbing partners, including Kevin Doyle and Guy Lacelle -really hitting home on what makes a special climbing partner/friend. Many beautiful slides showed classic Canadian Rockies routes that were pioneered by Barry and his friends. The highlight of the presentation for many was Barry giving the insider details on his work as a climbing adviser and safety rigger on a number of Hollywood films including Cliffhanger, and Vertical Limit!
Sue Nott Scholarship winners Sommer and Izabella!
After the shows we introduced Sommer Edwards and Izabella Tancredi as the 2012 Sue Nott Scholarship winners. Down Wind Sports has created the Sue Nott Scholarship with the purpose to promote, inspire, and introduce young females to the sport of ice climbing. The girls had to submit a letter of why they wanted to participate, a letter of recommendation from someone other then their parents, and their report card. Sommer and Izabella were selected from the largest group of girls ever to submit applications and were provided with free entry into the fest and the Women’s Intro To Ice Course. Way to go girls!
As usual the evening concluded with the Michigan Ice Fest raffle where we gave out over $4000.00 of gear and clothing to some very excited climbers. Soft shells, belay parkas, BD Stinger Crampons, Sterling and Petzl ropes, Osprey Packs, and La Sportiva Nepal Evo ice boots were only a few of the items raffled off! A big shout out to Patagonia, La Sportiva, Mountain Hardwear, Sterling, Black Diamond, Petzl and Osprey for providing such killer raffle prizes!
SUNDAY
More mild temps greeted our Intro to Ice and Intro to Leading participants which made for comfortable classes all day long. The effects of climbing hard all day Saturday and a late night of socializing must have took it toll on climbers as the demo area was a very laid back all day Sunday allowing climbers their choice of routes for most of the day.
All in all it was another great Michigan Ice Festival and we appreciate all of the patronage we get from Midwest climbers. We are proud to say that over the weekend we were able to sign up 31 new members to the American Alpine Club, and the Access Fund and exposed hundreds of first time climbers to the sport of ice climbing.
The reason our event is so successful is because of the assistance we get from all of our sponsors. If you were at the event and had fun, enjoyed the presenters, or loved the killer raffle prizes please drop the following sponsors a note to tell them that you appreciate them supporting the Michigan Ice Fest!
Look for Michigan Ice on the Weather Channel Wednesday April 27th at 6pm. The shows producer, Kip Grosenick, has promised to make Bill a foot taller, ten pounds lighter, and a whole lot smarter!
The 2011 Michigan Ice Fest is in the books and turns out it was a record breaking year! 511 participants converged on Munising Michigan to participate in the 28th annual Michigan Ice Fest. Twelve different states were represented this year with participants traveling as far from Texas and California coming to enjoy banner ice conditions this year. Almost all of the classic ice formations were in this year and Lake Superior froze over enough to allow the most adventurous climbers to access Grand Island.
FRIDAY
New this year, the Fest started with an Introduction to Ice Course on Friday where participants spent the day learning he tricks of the trade out at the Curtains. The evenings festivities started off with a climbing social and free beer sponsored by Scarpa and Osprey. Due to a family illness, Roger Strong was unable to make it to the Fest (but he has promised to come to next years fest), so the evening presentation was provided by Sam Elias. Sam gave out a shout to his Michigan roots which drew a huge roar from the crowd, and then proceeded to show slides and video of his skiing and climbing exploits around the world. One thing for sure, after watching the presentation, participants came away with how talented of a climber Sam is! The rest of the evening you could find people browsing the booths of:
Saturday we got the ball rolling early with equipment hand out for Ice Fest Courses. As usual, the courses filled up fast and participants were treated to instruction provided by Mark Wilford, Steve House, Sam Elias, Majka Burhardt, and James Loveridge. After getting the courses set and on their way it was time to hook up participants with demo gear. This year the line to pick up gear was exceptionally long running down stairs and winding through the restaurant. Some folks were unable to get gear and we realize that this is an on going problem and yes, next year we are taking steps to alleviate this problem.
The Demo area at the Curtains also saw changes this year with brand new ropes donated to the festival by Sterling Ropes! Hundreds of climbers were challenged throughout the day with a variety of difficult climbs set up. Also new this year was the Adventure Medical Kits and Jetboil Medical Station. A big thank you goes out to Peter Richards and Peter Zenti for manning the station all weekend tending to a few nicks and cuts! Saturday at the Demo we also saw Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel giving ice climbing a shot. Jim and his crew were at the festival doing a story on winter activities in the Upper Peninsula. The show should air sometime in April.
After a long day of climbing, everyone converged upon Sydney’s for the Saturday evening social and free beer provided by Down Wind Sports. With a standing room only crowd, our first presentation of the evening was from Majka Burhardt. Majka beautifully narrated her show of growing up and her early days of climbing, follwed by her exploits of unexplored sandstone towers in Ethiopia which resulted in her book Vertical Ethiopia: Climbing Toward Possibility in the Horn of Africa, short listed for the Banff Book Award. Midwest climbers, keep an eye out for her second book, Coffee Story: Ethiopia, which will be released in spring 2011.
Our final presentation of the evening was from Steve House. Steve is no stranger to the Michigan Ice Fest as this was his third visit to our festival. His presentation started out with a dramatic video of him soloing two Classic, hard routes on New Hampshire’s Cathedral Ledge. With jaws hanging, the audience sat and watched this incredible footage that was shot in February of last year. The second portion of the show was of Steve and Vince Anderson’s ascent of Nanga Parbat’s infamous Rupal Face, which is widely considered to be the greatest alpine wall in the world. And if that wasn’t enough, the show finished off with an account of Steve’s 80 foot fall in the Canadian Rockies while attempting to climb Mt. Temple. The accident left him with multiple life-threatening traumatic injuries which he is still recovering from today.Missed the show? You can read up on Steve’s exploits by checking out his book Beyond the Mountain. The book won the Mountain Literature Award at the Banff Mountain Book Festival and the UK’s Boardman-Tasker Prize. It’s a great read and the book maintains a 5-star rating by it’s readers.
SUNDAY
The effects of climbing hard all day Saturday and a late night of socializing must have took it toll on climbers as the demo area was a very laid back all day Sunday allowing climbers their choice of routes all day long. The additional effect of having the Packers in the Super Bowl also caused our visiting Wisconsin climbers an excuse of bailing out early to prepare for their Super Bowl Parties!
All in all it was another great Michigan Ice Festival and we appreciate all of the patronage we get from Midwest climbers. We are proud to say that over the weekend we were able to sign up 20 new members to the American Alpine Club, raised $200.00 for the Jeff Lowe movie project and exposed hundreds of first time climbers to the sport of ice climbing.
The reason our event is so successful is because of the assistance we get from all of our sponsors. If you were at the event and had fun, enjoyed the presenters, or loved the killer raffle prizes please drop the following sponsors a note to tell them that you appreciate them supporting the Michigan Ice Fest!
In case you have not heard, the new ice climbing guidebook, An Ice Climbers Guide To Munising Michigan Michigan will finally arrive just before Ice Fest. That is a cause for celebrating! Come join guidebook authors Jon Jugenheimer and Bill Thompson for the unveiling of this much anticipated guidebook, Thursday night of Ice Fest at Sydneys!
