Who’s the one guy you can guarantee you’ll see at the fest?  Mark of course!  A long time supporter of the festival, Mark is considered one of the most proficient and diverse alpinist/rock climbers in the world. With more than 30 years of experience, he has accumulated a long resume of bold rock ascents, alpine solos, Alaskan climbs and Himalayan expeditions. Among his most notable climbs are the first American solo ascent of the Eiger North Face, a first ascent route on Nameless Tower, a winter solo of the Diamond on Long’s Peak and first ascents in Alaska’s Saint Elias Range.

“IF GOD DOES EXISTS, THEN HE MUST SPEND A DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE

WILFORD CASE”.

For those of you that are Ice Fest veterans, one thing that always sticks out is what characters some of the climbers can be, and Wilford is no exception.  Profiled in John Sherman’s book, “Sherman Exposed“,  Wilford’s accomplishments on the rock and antics off the rock are examined.  He has a passion for fast cars and that has given him the dubious record of surviving at least six automobile rollovers, although…… he claims he was only driving for five of them.

Mark is being sent to Ice Fest by our new sponsor Big Agnes!  Through the American Alpine Club, Mark just completed a climbers exchange program with Iran where Wilford and 11 other American climbers converged on Tehran Iran, to meet with Iranian mountaineers.  Mark’s  presentation will be on the climbing opportunities that he and the other Americans shared with their Iranian counterparts this past summer.

Although he has participated in sport climbing and ice-climbing events, Mark is considered a staunch traditionalist when it comes to the style and ethics of climbing and usually  in his presentations.  Although……. branching out this year-  Mark will present his show via power point presentation, a first for Mark!

Thanks Big Agnes for joining the Michigan Ice Fest team and for providing us with another year with Mark Wilford!