Manitou River (North Shore)

BETA PHOTO: The main climbing area at Manitou. Routes 3-7 on ...

Description 

Ice and mixed climbing in this wild river setting provide a very accessible wilderness-like climbing environment. Up to 8 or so routes form somewhat unreliably, and variably, from year to year depending on what you call "in." Routes range about 65 feet in length (+/-).

The grades provided herein are a best-estimate and will only occasionaly come close to the conditions you may find on any given day. Furthermore, the route Lady in Waiting (route #5) has not been climbed by myself and I needed to submit my best estimate of the most frequent conditions (mixed) and based its grade relative to mixed and dry-tool routes found in Sandstone, Casket Quarry and Orient Bay.

Have fun!

Getting There 

North of Little Marais on Highway 61. Look for the River's signage on the bridge. Either take the river north (when passable) or follow the north lip of the canyon while avoiding tresspassing on private property. If following lip, stick to the woods on the north rim until you can hear the Falls. Drop down to edge and walk a bit down river to look for slings on trees on the tops of routes 7 and 8.

Featured Route For Manitou River (North Shore)

Route 5 (a.k.a. Lady in Waiting) WI6 M8  Minnesota : Manitou River (North Shore)

The big enchilada. This monstrous hanging dagger falls from the lip of the canyon and hangs free for most of its length as it tries touch down. If it does, it's a burly free standing pillar. If not, it's radical, loose dry-tooling through a 15-foot cave to overhanging munge (held together with ice) to the hanging widow-maker. Mike Dahlberg once led this with removable bolts on lead to get to the hanger....[more]

Add Photo Photos of Manitou River (North Shore)

Same view as on Shawn's picture. Previous year '06...	Ice at the back of the canyon.	Traversing to the back of Manitou in wet condition...
Trippy Conditions as of 1/5/08