The Upper Peninsula is home to more than 200 climbs for both professional and beginner ice climbers. They range in height from 20-200 ft providing a unique challenge for anyone who dares to try!
Bill Thompson, The Co-owner of Down Wind Sports says, “We have people that have never climbed before, we have people that have been coming up here for almost 30 years – it’s just a way to get out and enjoy the outdoors and participate in the sport of ice climbing.”
The perfect time to get out and try this sport is now! The Michigan Ice Fest is taking place Wednesday, February 13th – Monday, February 18th, 2019. This brings in hundreds of people from across the country and world to share their love for adventure.
Ice Climbing guides love teaching new people, getting them hooked on this one-of-a-kind sport. “I have a lot of fun teaching new people to climb and turning them onto a sport that they thought that they could never do – they come out here, they try it, they get to the top and man they’re so stoked and so you know, I really get a kick out of that,” says Bill Thompson.
Joshua Cain with Superior Ice Climbing Adventures says, “You tune everything out. It’s not cold anymore, your muscles aren’t sore – you’re just in the moment. It’s exhilarating I think.”
The science behind the wall of ice is pretty simple. “We get a lot of rain in the fall, we get a lot of snow in the early and then we get these beautiful cold temperatures that freezes the ice and these formations come right out of the middle of the rock and then drop into lake superior,” says Bill Thompson.
This winter workout is sure to challenge you both mentally and physically all while taking you to new heights.
Emily Sperka who is a first-time climber says, “It’s good to do something new and get outdoors and see things from a different perspective so it’s fun to look down and see how far you’ve gone.”
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