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Midwest Ice Conditions-14/15 season

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

Wildcat in SRSP is looking good and still growing!

North shore, Casket has ice and Gooseberry was climbed this weekend. Looked good. No reports on Nightfall for ya.

Juggler Jones · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 1,185

2/17/15 SRSP Update:

All Falls are NOT climbable at this time. All are super wet and need time to set in. They are growing but should not be climbed until after this next cold spell maybe not even until Monday next week. There is super heavy flow from upstream in all falls and that is making them soft chandelier ice....

Paul Kuenn · · Appleton · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 70

Nightfall was fun 6 weeks ago so it can only be fatter now. Even back then we were able to walk up the creek without issue. No snow really on N. Shore so not much else is formed. Very Dry all the way to Nipigon.

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

Nip?! you are killing it this season. What did you get on? How were the conditions?

Gokul G · · Madison, WI · Joined May 2011 · Points: 1,753

Thanks for the update Paul.

banjomiles · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 20

This would be pretty cool.. kickstarter.com/projects/su…

For those who don't want to click on it: it's a kickstarter to support the production of Thunder/Orient/Kama Bay mixed & Ice climbs.

Chabrosm · · West Chester OH · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 0
Juggler wrote:2/17/15 SRSP Update: All Falls are NOT climbable at this time. All are super wet and need time to set in. They are growing but should not be climbed until after this next cold spell maybe not even until Monday next week. There is super heavy flow from upstream in all falls and that is making them soft chandelier ice....
How is it possible that jon reported 3 days ago that several falls are good to climb, it only got colder, and now they are heavy flowing and should not be climbed?
Juggler Jones · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 1,185
Chabrosm wrote: How is it possible that jon reported 3 days ago that several falls are good to climb, it only got colder, and now they are heavy flowing and should not be climbed?
I know what I saw the same day I posted with wet soaking falls. Not sure when Jon posted versus the day he saw it in person or heard from someone else...(Could have been a fews before he posted)... things can change that fast when it comes to water flow. All of the upstream flow(maybe miles of it) and snow melt has collected and comes together at the top of each waterfall, which with my experience farming ice, can create way TOO much flow for building ice(and make it climbable) at most any temp. Need to have a little less flow and cold temp-no matter how cold. It is a fine line. It may be better now with this current cold spell.

If anyone has been out there or will be on Friday, please post up. Thanks
Juggler Jones · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 1,185

if anyone is going to SRSP TODAY or Sat(tomorrow) please post up conditions ASAP. Thanks!

www.PlayWildIL.com

Paul Kuenn · · Appleton · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 70

Didn't get all the way to Nipigon. Had only 3 days after travel. Found a nice overhanging pillar in Dorion along a river right next to some solar panels. My kind of place! Most of my old haunts were now "off limits" so I was very bummed.

Anyone holding onto an old pair of original Grivel Rambo replacement Mono points? Mine are filed down to nubbins.

ramcmillan · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 0

Climbed Wildcat today, the ice was pretty fat and filled in on the top. Still growing. Bottom 3/4th was relatively dry and great ice. The top 1/4th was a bit soft and wet still, so we avoided the top. Only section of chandelier ice was climbers far right side.

Just as a reminder, no crampons on the paths. I could tell there were crampon tracks on the wooden walk ways (not the recreational ones that hikers use).

Another party said Tonti wasn't in as good of conditions, but that is all I can really comment on that.

roger fritz · · Rockford, IL · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 60

We played on tonti Friday and Saturday. Tonti was a blast Friday with very hard brittle ice. Today the water was flowing straight down the center with the right and left sides remaining dry. The left side offered a delicate climb and the right was chopped up.
Each of these dry climbs did not require pick swings or crampon kicks. There were plenty of features to hook and step on.
The center portion was chopped out pretty much on Friday, however today with the heavy water flow, the ice was growing rapidly today. Someone will have some fresh ice tomorrow morning here.
We climbed the backside of the formation today corkscrewing out onto the right face under the broken icicle to the topout.
Great days, great company and challenges!
Cheers

mrchris · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 0

We are coming up tonight. Climbing Tuesday the 24th and Wednesday the 25th. We have all our own gear and we were wondering if there is anybody interested in showing us the area and possibly climbing together. If not it would be great if someone could give us some detail info on approaches to the dryer hose area or any recommended areas. any help would be awesome thanks.

Gokul G · · Madison, WI · Joined May 2011 · Points: 1,753

All the approach beta you will need (with GPS coords) is here: fixedpin.com/products/an-ic…

I imagine there's good information on this site too.

You can also call Downwindsports in Marquette and talk to anyone there if you have additional questions.

BenCooper · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 585

Starved Rock Conditions Update:
2/23, Monday
Weather: It was cold all day, and all night prior (temps never exceeded 5'F in the canyons). No recent precip.

Wildcat: Mostly dry and fat. Center and left lines were somewhat hacked out, but still good ice. Right line is all chandelier ice, with active drip. Far left (almost on the backside) line was very fun, mostly dry.

LaSalle: The whole fall is pretty wet, but it's climbable. The left line is the most dry. Found good ice just over the lip for an anchor. The middle is not formed yet, and is unclimbable. The right side is very wet, and wouldn't be much fun.

Tonti: Did not climb, but we did hike up to scope conditions. It looks to be in good shape still, and was bone dry.

Photos to come. Has anyone been to Ottawa yet this year? We didn't have time before it got dark.

BenCooper · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Apr 2007 · Points: 585
Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

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Conrad Anker was in Munising last week.

edit*Can't figure out how to embed the video better, but the blue links work to the video on facebook.

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

Any reports on Starved Rock?

ErikShepd · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 10

Starved Rock was in fat but very wet. Probably be out by the end of the week if its in the 50's (then again I don't really know how much shelter it gets being back in that canyon, maybe it'll make it till next weekend?).

Tons of people were down in the canyon (>500 over the course of the day), felt like a zoo exhibit... Had to remind folks way to often to keep clear and not get ice blocks dropped on their heads...

Wildcat in fat and WET.

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

Thanks Erik. In but WET was what I thought.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
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