Michigan Ice Fest Staff, Colten Moore and Braxton Hjelle spent the day in Munising scoping lines and getting some laps in.  They sent back this report of the more popular pillars out along the lakeshore.

“Giddy Up was really washed out, two huge holes and unclimbable. Mini me and Sunny day were great. We rappelled into Dairyland, which looked awesome from the top but near the bottom the climb was like a running waterfall all over and melting hanging daggers. Decided to pull the rope and bail due to unsafe ice, a week ago it would have been stellar!

 

We hiked/climbed/rappelled our way back to Mini Me and Sunny Day to scramble back up.  Then got on Midnight Rambler which was in amazing shape! The Good the Bad and the Ugly looked awesome, Suck It Up was good but a little wet.

Left Soda Straw and Curtain Climb were not touching. I imagine all of the pillars will take a major hit if this weather stays the way it is. Climbs in the shade with less running water would be better.”

 

The current forecast is for warmer temperatures through next Wednesday and cooling down after that.  Many pillars with higher water flows will be suspect so please use caution when selecting your climbs.  There are numerous seeps and pillars with less water flow and less exposure to the sun inland of the Lakeshore Trail.  Explore these seldom climbed routes and you will be on solid, virgin ice!