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Governor Dodge Ice?

Original Post
Lee Berg · · Madison, Wi · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 30

Anyone have any idea when the ice of Gov. Dodge starts to come in. With all the talk of the ice over at Wyalusing, I would figure it has started to come in at GD.

A couple buddies and myself are looking to do some of the natural pro TR down at Stephens Falls.

I realize it is still pretty early, but with the all the single digit temps this week im hopeful but i'm just trying to see if it is even worth it / safe checking it out on Sunday.

Thanks!

Bud Martin · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 380

Bump for interest.

Any beta on this place I'm a complete noob to ice in Wisco. Would love to nab a route or two while I'm home for xmas.

Lee Berg · · Madison, Wi · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 30

So we braved the "winter emergency" and did go on Sunday the 12th. It took 2 hours to get from Madison to G.D. The entrance was blocked off so we hiked from the ranger station down to Stephen Falls.

Unfortunately there wasn’t anything worth climbing yet. There is decent ice about halfway up the wall but the bottom half is all bare rock / snow. There was only one really skinny route, we went ahead and climbed it since we came all the way but it was only about a 15-20 foot route. We only spent a couple minutes on the wall so the ice we found is still in the condition we found it.

We took some pictures if anyone wants to see what it looks like.

Hopefully another week of cold temperatures should fatten up the ice.

I would say it should be looking good by Christmas / New Years time!

Burton Lindquist · · Madison, WI · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 4,215

We didn't climb there but we look around at Steven's Falls amp on Sat Dec 18th. It's looking skinny and barely there thus far.. Here are a couple of pics going left to right. There were a few folks with ropes set up and scratch'n at the barely there frozen watersickles...
Didn't make it to Cox Hollow but heard from this group the creek is running farely dry with a trickle only so guessing that's dry this year. Gotta go look for myself though.

Lee Berg · · Madison, Wi · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 30

Our crew went out again on Sunday the 19th.

The ice has increased significantly since we checked it out on the 12th.



We found a newly formed route on the far right side of the wall that was pretty much ice the whole way.



We quit climbing almost immediately after starting since the ice was so thin... it was certainly climbable, but we didn't want to damage the ice any more then we already had - there were some pretty big chunks (football sized) coming of the wall at an alarming rate.

Most of the wall looks like this:



The ice needs more time!

I would now say it probably wont be worth checking out / climbing until at least after new years.

Also, here's the falls and some misc. shots



Will Schira · · Madison, WI · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 20

So I scoped out the wall today around noon. The ice has increased in some areas and decreased in others.

Here's the main section of the wall



And looking to the right


The dark side of the wall


And closeup


The waterfall itself


General view of the right route


Compared to a couple weeks ago
Miranda Q · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 0

Does anyone know what the current ice conditions are at the Dodge and/or if the ice is climbable?

Will Schira · · Madison, WI · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 20

I hope so, am heading up there today.

Alek-S · · Chicago · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 10

I don't know what it is now, but I took this photo 2 weeks ago, Jan 26th.

Governor Dodge, Jan 26th Ice

Rockbanned brett · · Plattsburgh, Ny · Joined Dec 2011 · Points: 215

Is that North or South facing? Looks like northeast if that was taken later in the day... How far is the hike from the ranger station to there dude? That looks fun. :-)

Lee Berg · · Madison, Wi · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 30
Miranda Q wrote:Does anyone know what the current ice conditions are at the Dodge and/or if the ice is climbable?
This weekend the Stephen Falls had ~3 routes. A 10 ft route LEFT of the main falls. A crappy right to the right of the falls (middle of the wall) and an OK (i guess) right on the right most side of the wall. Nothing even thick enough for screws.

We were going to get on Cox Hollow but there was a group of 15 or so boy scouts who arrived minutes before us and were on it all day.

I would think some of the warmer temps above freezing this week might trash the Stephen falls area, there wasn't much to work with before.
Bogdan Petre · · West Lebanon, NH · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 1,098

Was climbing there yesterday. Stephen's falls still has the three routes Lee Berg mentioned. Still not great for screws, but definitely still climbable despite recent warming. Don't know about Cox Hollow. My climbing partner or I will post some pics soon.

MikeG · · Naperville, IL · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 20

Stephen's falls area as of yesterday:

left side

Left side

-----------

center right

center right

center right 2

-----------

far right

far right

Will Schira · · Madison, WI · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 20

Overview of Cox Hollow from 2/23/13

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
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