It all started out with a comment from The North Face Team Athlete Conrad Anker. Conrad was in Munising filming the new National Parks IMAX Film celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System.  Conrad Anker’s specialty, simply put, is climbing the most technically challenging terrain in the world. This quest has taken him from the mountains of Alaska and Antarctica to the big walls of Patagonia and Baffin   Island and the massive peaks of the Himalaya.  Blown away by the climbing at Pictured Rocks, he was surprised that there is virtually no local youth that have taken up ice climbing.  This year we are going to try and change that with big help from our friends at The North Face!

 

At this years Ice Fest, The North Face has a limited amount of Yeti Colsters and 20oz Ramblers laser etched with the Michigan Ice Fest logo and stuffed full of The North Face stickers! Perfect for representing MIF & keeping the beers cold at the party! Regular price on these guys is $30 and they will be selling them at the TNF booth for $35 with all proceeds going back to the Pictured Rocks Climbing Academy. In addition, we had some CUSTOM beanies made from TNF that will be sold for $20. Buy a Yeti AND a Beanie…. $50 goes to getting local kids involved in ice climbing. You will want to run right over to the TNF booth at Michigan Ice Fest Headquarters as these will go fast!

 

Pictured Rocks Climbing Academy

Pictured Rocks Climbing Academy is a free program available to Alger County youths ages 12-17 where mentors guide a small group of four participants through a four step program designed to advance the participants rock and ice climbing skills. Our goal is to develop, advise and foster a youth climbing community in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Based on an application system, the PRCA Board will select and award 4 full ride scholarships that include 6 instructional sessions.  The instructional sessions will involve indoor training sessions, outdoor rock climbing, ice climbing, as well as participants receiving full ride scholarships to the Michigan Ice Fest which will include clinics, courses, and slide shows. Participants will be able to hone their skills that were developed throughout the year.  It is our goal to plant the seed and produce the next generation of high level ice climbers.  For more information on the PRCA please contact Bill at downwindsports@gmail.com

Check out more on Conrad’s visit to Munising here!