The Ice Pit Demo Days - Midwest Ice Climbers

Any of you that might be interested in climbing at 'The Pit' might want to check this out.....

http://www.theicepit.org/default3.asp

This year will be the first Ice Pit Ice Festival & Demo Weekend on January 16-17, 2010.
"Kind Bars, DMM, Marmot, Osprey, Scarpa, Point 6 Socks and SOLE Footbeds, as well as Little Hotties, Red Bull, Yaktrax and more are coming......Saturday night event at the Ramada Inn, with a slide show from our Everest summiting club member, Lance Fox of New London, WI. Plus way more cool stuff to come!"

The Ice Pit is top rope climbing only and the ropes will be set for you that day. You need to bring & fill out two forms: 1. Liability & Release From and 2. Ice Pit Orientation Rules & Regulations Agreement Form (SEE BELOW); $10 per person CASH; and personal climbing gear (boots, crampons, harness, belay device, tools, helmet).
If you have any other questions or information about this event please contact Dan Kopperud @ dpkopperud@gmail.com or midwesticeclimbers@gmail.com. We look forward to meeting new climbers and welcome back others. We hope you have a fantastic experience climbing at The Ice Pit.

Hello, is this thing on?

I'm all in for this. Will need a partner/belayer for the weekend as mine can't make it there. Ramada 'special' rate they told me is 95 a night. I'm probably heading to the cheaper motels. See 'ya at the meetup spot Saturday.

Woodchuck ATC wrote:I'm all in for this. Will need a partner/belayer for the weekend as mine can't make it there. Ramada 'special' rate they told me is 95 a night. I'm probably heading to the cheaper motels. See 'ya at the meetup spot Saturday.

Gather up some friends and bring the room cost down......

"Meet-up" will be at the front gate Saturday morning. I am sure that partners/a belay will not be hard to find.

Will there be demo boots available? I've got several others interested, but boots are a sticking point. Certainly looking forward to it, though.

Dave Deming wrote:Will there be demo boots available? I've got several others interested, but boots are a sticking point. Certainly looking forward to it, though.

I beleive Scarpa is sending/providing some....still hoping for La Sportiva......

I spoke with the local Scarpa rep yesterday when he was climbing at The Pit.....yes they are sending boots, no he will not be there personally. La Sportiva is looking less likely......

it looks like the cost for the hotel also includes the water park which will be nice after a day of climbing...

I can pass on the water park for the savings. A nice hot tub for aches and frostbite will be good enough for my old bones. As for climb partners, all mine have moved on in life, died off, given up, or their wives don't let them go outside to play anymore. Sucks.

Hey Ron, I'm planning on showing up. Might need a belay partner as well.

How's the ice pit looking so far this year?

Thankfully I do not even have to make this conditions report up........I was just there yesterday 12/26..........

The main wall (north facing) at The Pit is in as good or better shape than it has ever been for this time of year. Probably 15 (or more) individual lines ready to climb.

The west wall moderate area and the hard thin/mixed natural lines are coming along as well. The naturals are ready to climb now, the shorter moderates are coming in. We have never had these form this early in the year, we can thank the October rains and the heavy early season snowfall.

We could use some colder temps to improve access to the main wall, and build some more ice on the west wall.........
-ron-

Here is an updated and more accurate description.....

You are invited to the first annual Ice Pit Ice Festival & Demo Weekend on January 16-17, 2010.

Climb all weekend for $10 (cash only, please)

The Ice Pit is located a few miles west of Green Bay, in De Pere, WI 54115. Map

Check out our massive private ice park and try awesome gear from Marmot, Osprey, Scarpa, Petzl, and Black Diamond.

We’ll also have Kind Bars, Point 6 Socks, SOLE Footbeds, Little Hotties, Red Bull, Yaktrax, the Access Fund and more!

After the climbing is over on Saturday come to the Ramada Inn, for a slide show from Dean Einerson, an awesome door prize giveaway and a party in the indoor waterpark.

Stay at the Ramada Inn and ask for the special Midwest Ice Climber rate. Leave your car there and take the free shuttle to and from the climbing.

Before you can climb, you'll need the following forms (which can be found by following the on the menu to the left:)

1. Liability & Release From

2. Ice Pit Orientation Rules & Regulations Agreement Form

If you have any other questions or information about this event please contact Dan Kopperud @ dpkopperud@gmail.com or midwesticeclimbers@gmail.com. We look forward to meeting new climbers and welcome back old friends.

REQUIRED FORMS
theicepit.org/default3.asp

Click "Members Only" on left side of this page
Click "Forms & Info" on left side of this page
Click "Member Forms" on left side of this page
Click #1-"Liability Release" Form-print, fill out, & bring with you
Click #2-"Ice Pit Orientation Rules & Regulations Agreement" Form-print, fill out, & bring with you.

Got all the paperwork, so I'm stoked for the fest. See you there!

Excellent. As you might guess with this cold snap, the ice is getting fat!

Scarpa Boots are coming for all to use. The Freney, Summit Men’s and Women's and the new Mont Blanc boots will be available all weekend for the Demo. There will be a full size run(s) available for anyone looking to get a good fit and see how well they climb.

Also, I just got word today that Petzl will be in attendance with Demo gear as well, to add to the Black Diamond gear on the way.

It looks like there will be lots of Boots, Crampons and tools to use and see first hand how good those Nomics really are and how well the Cobras climb fat ice!

Manufactures Reps will be in attendance, door prizes to win and one awesome slideshow from our midwest's very own, Dean E, on Saturday night. If your an ice climber, or just looking to get on Ice for the first time, we look forward to seeing you there!

I would love to try to go to this. I am not an ice climber and have no ice gear, but i have done it a few times and would jump at any chance to do it again.

The fact that I have no geat creates a large problem.

anyone looking for a couch I am more then happy to put people up.

I live in downtown GB.

email for more info timothy.d.nolan (at) gmail.com

Beer drinking will deff take place Friday night, most likely at or near the Ramada. To let you know, Appleton is about 15-20 mins down highway 41.

I live in Appleton, but have to work till Friday evening. However, if Ron or somebody posts where beer drinking will occur, I'd be willing to DD anybody who needs one, back to Appleton. Throw in a couple bucks for gas, and I think an agreement could be reached.

Oops.... it seems as though I never posted when this event will start. Gates should open around 8:30.... maybe a bit before if we can get our s**t together.

As for a drinking location.....have to work on that. May be a game time decision....

Hey Ron,

A few questions:

Perhaps I missed something, but after scouring theicepit.org/default3.asp, I can't, for the life of me, find any information regarding what this place actually is/was -- former quarry? road cut? mine? And, how it came to be "The Ice Pit" in the beginning.

Is the ice "farmed", or, natural?

Some geologic, rock composition/quality info might also be nice for those of us not familiar with the area. (Good for dry-tooling?)

DaveB wrote:Hey Ron, A few questions: Perhaps I missed something, but after scouring theicepit.org/default3.asp, I can't, for the life of me, find any information regarding what this place actually is/was -- former quarry? road cut? mine? And, how it came to be "The Ice Pit" in the beginning. Is the ice "farmed", or, natural? Some geologic, rock composition/quality info might also be nice for those of us not familiar with the area. (Good for dry-tooling?)

Hey Dave...... I will try to not make this too long.

The Pit is an active quarry as such it is only open on weekends or holidays when the quarrying operation is not working. It used to be (10 yrs ago or so) a separate pit on the property, it has now merged in to one pit.....kinda c shaped with us in the back.

History.... A few of us used to poach climbs there, some ice forms naturally. When that ended (long story) the place was opened as an ice climbing gym operated by a guide service (that I used to work for). At that time it was a place where people could pay to climb (like a gym) or take instruction. The guide service operated it until the company owner (of the guide service) decided to shut down his company. At that time he suggested that we try to form a co-op or club in order to keep it open....and we did.

We are incorporated as a not-for-profit organization and operate The Pit as a semi-private members and guests climbing location. For a lot of reason I do not want to get into here, this route was the easiest to go (you might not be surprised but there is a shit load of liability to deal with). To be clear, no one makes any money off this, we collect dues ($200 a year) in order to pay for rent to the quarry (limited amount) insurance, infrastructure (for ice making and a couple 'huts') and club owned climbing equipment (ropes-webbing-biners-etc.).

Climbing..... The ice is a combination or farmed and natural, and is up to 110' in height. Most of the walls are of course vertical to near vertical so all the ice is WI4 and up. There is mixed climbing but to be honest the rock quality is often horrid (the place produces gravel) but since all climbing is done on top-rope people are willing to give it a go scratching their way through the bad spots of rock.

I think I answered all of your questions....if not let me know....and I realized I failed to keep it brief......