At Michigan Ice we take pride in being your go to site for current ice climbing conditions for Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as well as climbs throughout the Upper Peninsula. Having a store in Munising now allows our guides to get out even more bringing you up to the minute conditions.  Planning a trip to Pictured Rocks or maybe this is your first time up here and want to find out where the ice is.  Be sure to stop by the store to get the latest beta and directions to some of the amazing climbing in Munising.

 

Today the Michigan Ice Fest Guides took advantage of a small snow pack and drove out to the Miners Falls area to check out the conditions after a short cold spell.  As of today the road is well packed and driveable.  This may change Monday due to a predicted snowstorm! After a short hike we found that the falls were cranking with water which made for some spectacular spray ice on both of the adjacent walls.

 

 

 

 

 

The afternoon was spent running laps on the steep soft thin ice that forms on the walls of this canyon from the spray from the main waterfall- Miners Falls.  The main falls only freeze after sustained cold weather due to their high volume of water flow and so far this season we have not had cold enough weather for these to form.  The thundering sound of the falls only feet from the climb added to the uniqueness of climbing in this setting.

 

It looks like we have some favorable weather coming in which will help to form some of the pillars that are very close to being climbable!  If you are looking to hire one of the Michigan Ice Fest Guides for a back country adventure be sure to check out our web site at here!