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Ice climbing near Milwaukee/Chicago?

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10

Cool! Is this something that everyone can be a part of or do the Guest/member fees still apply?

Otherwise, I'll try to get there if my weekend is open (and maybe a couple others)

I also just picked up this Superior Ice guide book from Climbing Central:

orders.climbingcentral.com/…

Don't know how good it is yet as its still in the mail, but it has over 300 routes from the midwest.

Ron L Long · · Out yonder in Wisco. · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 90

This event is open to anyone, the $10 fee is the cost to ALL non-members. That will cover 1 day of climbing and/or the festivities on Saturday night. This is the first time we have tried something like this so I have no idea what the turn-out will be like, hopefully it will be good.

As of this week our water source is fully activated, we should be building ice as we speak. I hope to go and check things on Saturday. If this weather holds at all, we should be climbing before/near Christmas, it takes 2-3 weeks to build reasonable ice.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

This sounds fantastic! My guess is it will be very busy. Hope you get another 20 extra ropes set up. Could be a long line of climbers waiting. What is the start time each day for this special weekend? I'm used to 6AM climbs down here in Ill. Looking forward to trying out the Pit' for once.

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10
Ron L Long wrote:This event is open to anyone, the $10 fee is the cost to ALL non-members. That will cover 1 day of climbing and/or the festivities on Saturday night. This is the first time we have tried something like this so I have no idea what the turn-out will be like, hopefully it will be good. As of this week our water source is fully activated, we should be building ice as we speak. I hope to go and check things on Saturday. If this weather holds at all, we should be climbing before/near Christmas, it takes 2-3 weeks to build reasonable ice.
Totally awesome! I'm almost certain I can attend.

Just got my guide book in the mail today. They have the Ice Pit in there too. Seems like a pretty decent purchase.
Leo Paik · · Westminster, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 22,800

Wow, this event sounds great! If I were in the Midwest, I'd go!

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10
Ron L Long wrote:This event is open to anyone, the $10 fee is the cost to ALL non-members. That will cover 1 day of climbing and/or the festivities on Saturday night. This is the first time we have tried something like this so I have no idea what the turn-out will be like, hopefully it will be good. As of this week our water source is fully activated, we should be building ice as we speak. I hope to go and check things on Saturday. If this weather holds at all, we should be climbing before/near Christmas, it takes 2-3 weeks to build reasonable ice.
I will be there! Now, the $10 covers Saturday, do I pay an additional $10 for Sunday too? Do I need to print off the papers to be signed ahead of time or do you have them on site?

Hope to meet you!
Ron L Long · · Out yonder in Wisco. · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 90
Paul Reineck wrote: I will be there! Now, the $10 covers Saturday, do I pay an additional $10 for Sunday too? Do I need to print off the papers to be signed ahead of time or do you have them on site? Hope to meet you!
The fee is $10 per day, but the paperwork of course only needs to be filled out once a season. Since The Pit is a not for-profit club paid for destination, we limit 'guest' days (times any one person can come as a guest) to twice a season, after that you have to be a member. I say this because if you come both days of 'The Fest' you would not be able to come back (this season) unless you joined. Just wanted to make that clear.

Paperwork can be filled out once you get there (we will have blank copies on site) but it will streamline your entrance if you have them completed before you get there. Your choice.....

See you there.....
Ron L Long · · Out yonder in Wisco. · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 90

Oh yea..... either days fee covers Saturday night gig as well.....

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10

Ok, makes sense.

I was also going to try out some other locations this winter, but for a convenience standpoint, the Ice Pit certainly has it's strong points.

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10

Hopefully this downright balmy weather wont affect the ice conditions too much this weekend . . . :(

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10

Mr. Long,

Thanks again for the wonderful opportunity to try out the pit! I had an awesome time. I'm seriously considering joining the club, and the two I came with may join as well.

Can you PM me some details on what membership includes, obligations/duties and whatnot?

Thanks!

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Sorry I missed the event as it looked just great. Update here on Starved Rock ice conditions: It melted alot, so they closed the park for now. Wait and see if they reopen ice in about 10 days.

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10

Hey, does anyone local here know what the conditions are like in the Lone Rock, Gov. Dodge and Wyalusing areas? I've been thinking of heading out that way to give those areas a shot.

Otherwise, it's another trip up to Pictured Rocks, which wouldn't be so bad either....

sunder · · Alsip, Il · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 805

Wyusling is in and good from what i hear

climbingcentral.com/forums/…

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10

Haha! I totally forgot about that site. I thought I joined up when I bought the guide book they have FS, but I guess the store doesn't include the forums. I joined up anyway. :-)

Thanks for the info!

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

Check out our silo:

facebook.com/groups/1086077…

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Agree, check out the ice silo this coming winter. We are currently dry tooling on it this fall, just to prep' those forearms. With good weather, we hope to open it up again with ice, in December. Check the above link and Facebook page. Located in south Chicago suburban area. More dry tool days coming up too.

dry tooling

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dry tooling again

Paul Reineck · · Milwaukee, WI · Joined May 2006 · Points: 10

Wow! That looks awesome! I will be sure to check it out this winter! Yeah, I saw your post in the Ice Pit's group.

Shame that the Ice Pit is still an unknown. I'm not sure if the new land owners are just stalling now or what... Pisses me off.

Is this silo something that was built for this or was this thing retrofitted for ice use?

Juggler Jones · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 1,185
Paul Reineck wrote:Wow! That looks awesome! I will be sure to check it out this winter! Yeah, I saw your post in the Ice Pit's group. Shame that the Ice Pit is still an unknown. I'm not sure if the new land owners are just stalling now or what... Pisses me off. Is this silo something that was built for this or was this thing retrofitted for ice use?
It is an old grain silo made on concrete that we farm ice on. We dry tool the natural way-- with features
Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

Dry tool time is over...Real ice is frozen up here and we are open for climbers tomorrow Jan 3rd, and into the weekend. Check out our Nice Ice facebook page for info and updates..

night climb with ropelights under the ice.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Ice Climbing
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