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Porcupine Mountains in the UP - anything to climb there?

Original Post
Sean Peter · · IL · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 105

Planning a backpacking trip over the 4th- and just wondering if there's anything at all inside the actual park. Even that "bouldering" type of climbing people do? Nothing on MP closer than Norwick Ledge....

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

If you want a pure adventure.... The answer is..... Kinda. Most of the rock there is crap to climb on that i have seen. There is one wall west of the lake of the clouds trailhead (just west of the bend in the trail) that looked like it could have potential. I didn't look too close, but it 'could' have potential.

Be prepared for adventure climbing if you do find anything. And please post up if you do!

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

Taken from the bridge over the big carp river looking up at the tourist overlook.
The rock there doesn't look awesome at all, but the two peaks west of the over look actually could hold a few routes. It would be take a lot of cleaning though to make them good and safe

Overlook

Sean Peter · · IL · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 105

Didn't seem too promising. Talked to a ranger and she mentioned Norwick as the closest place people would go- and that the Escarpment basalt was super chossy. We opted to camp down by lake Superior instead of a fruitless exploration- I did check out some of the rock (boulders and very short walls) further down the Big Carp River and solid looking holds would just crumble. But a lovely lovely forest up there.

Vincent M · · Kalamazoo, MI · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 35

Michael, are these cliffs on Mt. Kallio and Mt. Haystack? I'm working on a guidebook for Michigan and any potential areas intrigue me.

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

Guidebook?!?!? Tells us more! The UP needs one!

Vincent M · · Kalamazoo, MI · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 35

Well, after trying to use the guidebook the Ridge Roamers and Down Wind have for Cliff Drive on my college visit to MTU ~5 years ago I determined the same thing and I've been quietly working on a rock and ice guidebook since.

I've been out and about trying to gather as much information as possible on the area, as well as scope out new areas. I'm drawing heavily from the mini-guides that have been published for the area, as well as the information I can pull from peoples trip reports. I guess the biggest thing I need are awesome shots of the area, since pictures of me and the guys I climb with will get boring pretty quickly.

Right now, I have an excel sheet with route descriptions, gps coordinates, etc. I'm currently working on drawing up topos for the majority of the climbs.

I'm currently debating on whether to self publish or release the guidebook as a pdf online. I'm also exploring the merits of a kickstarter campaign. I got in touch with fixed pin and they seemed kind of ambivalent to the whole thing, so I've determined I'll releasing it alone.

If you want to know more, I'd be happy to get you more information, whether that's electronically or in person!

Double J · · Sandy, UT · Joined Apr 2006 · Points: 3,931

Seth, that bluff is the Porkies. Far far away from the ski hill.

Vincent M · · Kalamazoo, MI · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 35

Seth, you're probably thinking of Bare Bluff. It's a part of the Grinell Memorial Sanctuary.

Mike Blisz · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jun 2016 · Points: 384

Guidebook?? Muy interesante

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
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