Midwest Ice Conditions-16/17 season

downwindsports.com/icefest/…

Updated Munising report from a few days ago. Looks like the warm weather is making it all the way up to the Big Lake. Not worried a bit for ice fest though. It will get cold again up there by then,plus a lot of route already look to be in.

Any updates on Gov Dodge? Did it survive the heat wave?

maggtu315 wrote:Any updates on Gov Dodge? Did it survive the heat wave?

Curious about ice in this area for the weekend myself

My guess would be that Cox hollow is melted out on both sides, and the ice on the wall right of Stephan's falls is still good enough to climb. We had warm temps, but really no sun and not too much rain in the last ~5 days. That being said, it's just a guess.

Also, reports that Wyalusing is still in. That doesn't surprise me at all. Just drive an extra hr one way for WAY better ice.

Lone Rock could be a crap shoot at the time, at least for the right flow. Anything that has a lot of moving water would prop be out right now.

Thank you!

Stephan's Falls as of 1/28/17.
Right side was all in, but hollow between the rock and ice from some melting during the warm spell.
Main/center was out, just running water.
Left was thin, but still saw some ascents, including a lead.
I didn't personally hike out to Cox Hollow, but was told that it's currently out.

It was nice to see a decent amount of people out there today getting after it!

Stephans Falls Right

Stephans Falls Left

Center

Hit Lone Rock yesterday. The down-river pillar is the only one still in place. There is enough there to still climb but barely. It was a white frosty snow cone mostly. Total muck and dirt fest on the top at the belay. Yuck. Not much fun. Had a very nice day though with not much wind and a bit of blue sky here and there.... spent most of the day scouting for new rock and ice route potential in a out of the way little spot in the vast driftless area and found a gem.

Went by Lone Rock yesterday, and ran into Burt's party after we had decided to make the drive to Wyalusing instead to make more use of our drive time from Chicago. Thought about sticking around but it would've been too crowded for the one route that was in. Glad you guys had some fun with it!

Billy Breathes on a warmer day. After you park on the shoulder it should be close by the second large pine tree photo by Tomek

Wyalusing (the quarry routes) were in pretty thick, although a lot of "re-freeze" ice on the surface. Left side was solid, and just to the right of that the ice was still in good too. Did not get a chance to see other track climbs, although I saw another party make their way over there. There were dogs on the quarry property which gave the other party hell while we were setting up toprope on the quarry climbs, the man living on the property eventually locked them em up inside

Quarry Left

quarry center

far right

pumping way too quick today!

a nice traverse from the main climbing to this hanging ice

Any reports on the Black River?

Anyone Know How bad of a hit did Munsing took last week's warm up? It looks like colder temps are in the forecast up until the 15th. And Yes, I have been checking the conditions reports with Down Wind Sports.

I heard not awesome for some of the pillars, but the seeping style routes (like the Curtains, HMR, Fallen Feather) held up. I don't have any route names that are actually "in" or not for you though. sorry.

Its my first year going and to be honest I'm debating on canceling my reservations. I want to avoid big crowds and incompetent people. (why am I going again..) Is it worth it?

I have been going for ~15 years or so to the Fest and have learned a few things about the weekend there. You still can find ice to climb over the weekend not with a large crowd, but a longer approach is necessary than either the weekend before or after. If you try and climb anything with in an hour or an hour and a half from the car, you will be making new friends.

That being said, Ice fests are not to climb alone, they are to attend a Festival. Lots of people attend as it is a super fun weekend. But, if that isn't your thing, go up the weekned after and enjoy the solitude.

Yes, the fest is worth attending for sure, but if you really want to do your own thing and have limited time in the winter to travel to Munising, then for sure head up a different weekend.

From a friends Facebook page. The wildcat has slowly been reforming since the warm up.

The wildcat.

^ Wonder if that will actually touch down with this warm-up.

Wisco ice is still in good, from this past weekend on the Nose

jon jugenheimer wrote:Any reports on the Black River?

The East side had a couple fun routes in 2-weekends ago. Chandelier was down but looked damaged from the warmth and rain. Amazingly the seepage spots upstream and on the same side from chandelier were fat and in great shape. The river was a bit too sketchy for us to cross so we climbed the east side. We did not look at (can't remember the name) the column downstream from chandelier. Cheers

Thanks Rodger. I heard from another friend the other day the river wasn't crossable. Just not cold enough this winter. So lame.

Your friend might have been the one who went out 1/4 of the way and turned back earlier in the day. We saw those tracks along with the fractured shore ice that settled down about 8" on the other side. At ABR the day before an older ski instructor/former water rescue diver, put the likelihood of "seeing Jesus face to face" if I popped thru the ice on that river with snowshoes on!
We made it home so I am positive we made the correct decision! Cheers

jon jugenheimer wrote:From a friends Facebook page. The wildcat has slowly been reforming since the warm up.

!!Well that pic is sucko depressing! Not much chance of that making it to connect or freeze up very soon AND get the OK to climb when needed. I'm afraid our ice 'season' is done here at SRSP...And it lasted for what....about 36 hours of legal climbing before closure of good ice. Late start and early closure problems once again here is a set back to a decade ago and more. Crap weather is another issue of its own. 12 hr. drives up north are the only answer I guess.

Anyone have any thoughts on ice conditions at Governor Dodge this weekend? Traveling from Southern IN.