Midwest Ice Conditions-16/17 season

Starting off with a Save the date(s);

Planet Rock goes cold-Part Dux, Madison Heights MI (Indoor season kickoff!)
Dec 10.

Sandstone Ice Fest, Sandstone MN
Jan 6-8

Peabody Ice Fest, Fenton MI
Jan 21-22

Duluth Ice & Mixed Fest, Duluth MN
Feb 10-12

The Michigan Ice Fest, Munising MI
Feb 15-19

Nipigon Ice Fest, Nipigon ON, Canada
March 3-5

Check their respective websites and Facebook pages for all updates, costs, info, ect.

I kept thinking about getting the conditions thread up and running, but the warmth just kept stopping me. At least the water table is high...

Yup. So very sad... still Earthworms crawling around on the sidewalk out front of my house yesterday in the warm rain...

seriously. as if last season at sandstone wasnt sad enough. im starting to wondering if we will be able to count of getting a season anymore.

Sweet! Hope to see lots of ice pics this year!

Conditions for ice don't look so great yet. That said this season I first got on the rock in February and I'm just back from a perfect day at the lake today.... Silver lining?

From the Sandstone Ice Park Facebook page. Thanks Carter!

Conditions Report!
There is currently no ice or snow at the Sandstone Ice Park. Daytime highs are forecasted to stay above freezing for the next 6 days with the overnight lows staying in the high to mid 20s. The first significant freeze likely won't happen until next Tuesday night December 6th. Once the temps drop below freezing it will take at least a week or more until the natural flow will be anywhere near climbable without damaging future growth. Once the water is turned on it will also take a week or more until it is climbable. I would not expect ice before Deceber 12th.
For those of you looking to head north, there is likely no climbable vertical ice in Minnesota at this time. This speculation is based on visiting Casket Quarry and lakes north of Duluth as well as the last two weeks of unusually warm weather.
Check back for more future condition reports!
Carter Stritch

The first "Ice" Event in the Midwest is just one week away! Planet Rock in Madison Heights MI. Drytool routes, BD and Petzl demo gear and Bill from the MI ice fest and Garrett from Peabody will both be there answering questions and getting you on real ice soon. Then showing the Michigan Ice Film after!

Planet Rock goes cold!

Hmm. It's almost as though the climate is changing in response to rises in global mean temperatures...

Update from the Gov:

Cox Hollow Left - virtually no ice
Cox Hollow Right - a thin veneer on which one could force the issue, but would likely end up with dull tools and a dull story.
Stephens' Falls Main Floe - virtually no ice
Stephens' Falls Right Wall - thin to 2" veneers that are probably climbable on TR, but won't yet take a screw and since the top-outs are dry/thin are certainly in no condition for leading or soloing.

I considered forcing the issue at Stephen' Right, but without a rope the sketchy looking top-out dissuaded me. My guess is that if the current forecasts come to fruition, there'll be good ice to climb here next week at this time, that is if folks stay off them this weekend. We're supposed to get eight inches of snow around here this weekend, so get the planks out and wait a week.

Good amount of water moving James?

jon jugenheimer wrote:Good amount of water moving James?

Lots! If the Dodge is any indication of water levels and we get the temps they're calling for next week; it's going to be a fat ice year!

Ice!

Casket as of 12/8/16

Taken from a friends feed on Facebook. Wildcat on Saturday.

Wildcat

jon jugenheimer wrote:Taken from a friends feed on Facebook. Wildcat on Saturday.

That doesn't look too promising for volume of flow, formation. Could be a long time before there is good ice there. Hate to see another bad year at SRSP for ice conditions,,,,so hope the dry fall out here doesnt' affect our flow in streams too much.
BUT our backyard ice tower is up and in use as of noon today ! Lucky for us,,,even if it's only 24 ft. high, it does have autobelays on it so more climbing,,,less cold belay standing around.

The ice routes in Casket Quarry are getting close. These photos are from December 13th. The ramp probably could be done on top rope but protecting it on lead would be interesting. The ice still needs to fill in.

The Ramp

Big Blue

We climbed in Orient Bay this past weekend. It was still early season conditions and but the climbing was a lot of fun. Almost 2 feet of snow in the woods so snow shoes might be helpful if the trail has not been broken in. We did Amy R, Adrenaline solution (first pitch only), Hully Gully, and Mellow yellow. We put some new webbing on the tree anchor for the first pitch on adrenaline solution.

Amy R

Adrenaline Solution

2nd Pitch of Hully Gully

Rapping Mellow Yellow

Gov Dodge Stephen Falls, left side is in good shape, right side not quite touching and needs a bit longer.

SF left

SF right

Does anyone know of the ice conditions at Wyalusing? Thanks

Wildcat at SRSP is close. I would bet by the middle of next week it could be climbable. That being said, please don't push it and get on it too early and kill it.