Ice climbers expect prime conditions

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MUNISING - Organizers are expecting prime conditions for the Michigan Ice Fest, which begins today and runs through Sunday in Munising at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

"Ice-wise, it's excellent, it's some of the best ice we've seen in years because it's been so cold," said Bill Thompson of Down Wind Sports in Marquette, one of the chief event organizers.

Over the past couple of years, ice climbers have had to contend with either bone-chilling sub-zero temperatures or the thermometer readings climbing too high to ensure the best ice conditions.

"Saturday and Sunday, the temperatures are supposed to be in the 30s so it should be comfortable for everyone," Thompson said. "It should be perfect."

Last year, the Michigan Ice Festival - the third-largest in the country behind events held in Colorado and New Hampshire - posted its highest participation figure with just over 450 climbers.

Participants in the festival use ropes and specialized climbing gear to ascend ice formations hanging over water seepage areas along the Pictured Rocks cliffs and frozen local waterfalls. Spectators gather to watch the climbers work the ice.

"We're very excited about the ice-climbing festival and we welcome people to the park," said Pictured Rocks Superintendent Jim Northup. "This is a perfect example of one of the great events that brings so many people into the area."

The ice-climbing activity is centered along Sand Point Road in Munising. Some climbers may venture to backcountry sites in the park, where overnight camping requires a permit.

Rangers said ice-climbing is prohibited on Munising Falls, but the remainder of the park is open for climbing opportunities.

"We've seen a few ice-climbers out over the past couple of weeks with the cold temperatures," Northup said.

Sydney's Restaurant in Munising is the headquarters for the event. A shuttle runs from the restaurant, and the Munising Falls parking lot, to the climbing area. Pets are not permitted in the ice-climbing demonstration area.

Thompson said during the festival there will be opportunities to try out the latest climbing gear and clothing, instructional courses, clinics on a variety of ice climbing-related subjects, as well as interesting and inspiring slide shows from world-class climbers.

Ice-climbing for novices requires coming out to an event and trying out equipment and getting some instruction, Thompson said.

"This is a great weekend to do that," he said.

Some highlights of scheduled events for the weekend include:

Today: 6 p.m. Climbing Social sponsored by Scarpa; 7:30 p.m. Slide show - Kevin Mahoney.

Saturday: 8 a.m. Demo Equipment Check-out; 9 a.m. Instructional courses meet upstairs of Sydney's; 10 a.m. Demos at the Curtains on Sand Point Road; 4-7 p.m. Demo equipment check in; 7 p.m. Climbing Social sponsored by La Sportiva; 7:30 p.m. Slide show - Sean Issac.

Sunday: 8 a.m. Demo Equipment Check-out; 9 a.m. Instructional courses Intro meet upstairs of Sydney's; 10 a.m. Demos at the Curtains; 2-4 p.m. Demo equipment check in.

The ice festival began in the early 1980s as a small gathering of friends that met on the first weekend in February to climb the ice. Down Wind Sports of Marquette has been involved in staging the event for more than a decade.

For more information, visit www.downwindsports.com or call 226-7112.