Devil's Lake Climbing Zine

Hey Midwesterners! Are YOU the proud owner of a first edition, homemade, one of a kind Devil's Lake Climbing Zine?

Now that my sleep deprivation from DL Craggin Classic has subsided...

Ever since I graduated college 2 years ago, I sold all my belongings and moved into a pop up camper in DLSP so I could guide full time. Best decision I've ever made. 

Over the past few years I've collected stories, images, poems, recipes, even a freestyle rap?! I poured my heart and soul into a 60 page love letter to Devil's Lake, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the community coming together and giving me their love letters too. Like Jimmy the Fox's "Ode to PBR," or Dave G telling us we all happened to be congregating at the same Green Valley campsite that the DLFA used to hang out at back in the day. Word on the street is, Devil's Lake "hasn't felt this alive since the 80s." I'm in awe seeing how much of the community is coming together over our shared love of this place, new members and legends alike. 

So if you'd like to be the proud owner of Devil's Lake's FIRST ever climbing zine... Consider supporting the cause. The zine premiered at DL Craggin Classic 2024, but I do have some zines leftover I'm happy to ship. The zine has shipped to California, New York, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, West Virginia....

And for all those asking, Volume 2 is officially in the works. If you have any stories you'd like to submit, please reach out! This is first and foremost a community project, made by and for dirtbags. Let's make something happen and spread that purple quartzite love! 

Bump for the only person documenting the Midwest Climbing Scene right now. It’s sick 

Bump again cause my shitbox van made it on the back cover 

Dude nice work, as someone who someone who started climbing at the lake and loves the bold head pointing ethic and unique climbing we have here. Thanks for showing DL some love, I think you have something special here. Midwest is so overlooked for climbing, so much to do, such a strong community. Photos are great, awesome to see people still getting after it on the sharp end.

Kenz is an awesome photographer and creative, I’m so thankful for this vibrant scene we have going here currently. Everyone should pick up a copy of this zine! You can feel the love that was poured into it.

Along with all the stoke and essays, you may just get to learn the CPW special campsite Queso Fundido recipe buried deep in the zine

this zine is dope, buy it

Cool idea. Will check it out. I just want to point out that there are some other people documenting the Midwest scene, such as Joel Ledvina’s amazing videos and, of course, all the guidebook authors.  We in MN keep stuff a bit more close to the chest, but there is a lot going on up here, too.

Sidenote: Joel and his friends, such as Ben Strobel and Eric Cashman, have found hundreds of new boulder problems. Same can be said for folks in MN. Can’t have a scene unless you have development. 

randy baum wrote:

Cool idea. Will check it out. I just want to point out that there are some other people documenting the Midwest scene, such as Joel Ledvina’s amazing videos and, of course, all the guidebook authors.  We in MN keep stuff a bit more close to the chest, but there is a lot going on up here, too.

Sidenote: Joel and his friends, such as Ben Strobel and Eric Cashman, have found hundreds of new boulder problems. Same can be said for folks in MN. Can’t have a scene unless you have development. 

Shhhhhhhh don’t tell people about the new boulders Randy

The only good bouldering in the DL area is at Burma Road 

You’re right though, those guys have the vision for the future of Midwest climbing. Joel is doing the lords work for real.
The sole way I stay connected to those guys is via memes sent back and forth bullying each other over various topics like us (the CPW) only doing routes that were hard in the 80’s and them (Ben, Kyle, et all) never headpointing anything hard

Hopefully Joel is interested in being involved with Volume two 

Those guys are sick and climb much harder than me

But needless to say, the scene overall is very lively and hopefully we can all stay psyched for each other 

Just ordered- sounds great!

Volume 2 WIP?

EB wrote:

Volume 2 WIP?

I think thats conditional on you giving Kenz a job next winter ;)

WIP= Work in Progress, or Winona Ice Park?!?!  Either way happy to see Vol. II

Double J wrote:

WIP= Work in Progress, or Winona Ice Park?!?!  Either way happy to see Vol. II

Rumor has it, Eric's ice farmers are gonna see some love soon....