Midwest Ice Conditions-14/15 season

Burt Lindquist wrote:Gokul and Adam.. There is ice to climb down on the tracks. It's just a bit thin over most of it for leading although it could be done on the left side I am thinking if you just choose your screw spots carefully. The top out is non ice... just frozen turf from the little shelf at the top of the main pillar. There wasn't any water running down it yesterday.... it was weird because usually there is some water flowing. Same thing over at the Quarry. Eric and I think that because there is so little snow the frost may be getting deeper quicker into the ground and maybe locking up the ground water flow. If there is a good amount of ground water recharge (you would think there is after all the Dec rain we received) the water will eventually flow again. Attached are the recent photos I took from yesterday 01-04-15.

Looks like it's not worth a trip up as of yet...

we have great ice at the silo..... playwilil.com

Anybody been out to Starved Rock during this cold spell? Haven't had much precip, but hopefully the cold is starting to freeze things up a bit.

BenCooper wrote:Anybody been out to Starved Rock during this cold spell? Haven't had much precip, but hopefully the cold is starting to freeze things up a bit.

SRSP is not even close. Some flow is there from last weeks rain(not much before rain) and now the cold should help... some warmer temps in the daytime are needed to help to melt snow and colder at night to get it going and freeze.

Looks like SRSP is close and even climbable! Great pics from the Chicago Alpine Club facebook page. Wish I was there right now!
facebook.com/ChicagoAlpineClub

Wyalusing is in, and ok. Climbed the Main Route and Quarry Monster. Both were very wet yesterday and steep.

Gov Dodge update:

Cox Hollow has been in for a while now.

Stephens Falls is close. There's still running water on the main falls, but there's some ice that is climbable on the wall to the right (Pokey Gonzales?). I got a couple of stubbies in this past weekend. The edges of the main falls are also climbable.

Any updates on wyalusing and lone rock would be appreciated. Thinking of heading there tomorrow but the warm up has me concerned with ice conditions.

DuWayne Effland wrote:Any updates on wyalusing and lone rock would be appreciated. Thinking of heading there tomorrow but the warm up has me concerned with ice conditions.

Will check out Lone Rock tomorrow, Sunday, and let u know

DuWayne Effland wrote:Any updates on wyalusing and lone rock would be appreciated. Thinking of heading there tomorrow but the warm up has me concerned with ice conditions.

Lone Rock was "in but thin" today

pix and video from Governor Dodge posted here:

facebook.com/IceCimbingMidwest

nice ice but soft today. Stephen falls was not in.... great for soloing at Cox Hollow...

Wyalusing: Main flow : 1/18/15

Ben Smith on the Main Flow Wyalusing

As of Sunday 1/18, these were all in good condition:
The Amphitheater
Dryer Hose
Curtains

Bill was with a group at the Dryer Hose on 1/17 and said it had fallen down, and then reformed to it's majesty over the last 12 days. on 1/18, the front ice was wearing a bit thin with flowing water visible about .5-.75 inches beneath the surface in a few spots towards the top. Beautiful left-side feature atop a cauliflower base, though.

Dryer Hose on Jan 18, 2015

Amphitheater was thin and hollow at the bottom, but broad and well-enough connected. Beautiful and steep in the uppers, with a thin top-out with some rock hiding quite shallow beneath the ice on the right side. The water flow had dammed and diverted to the north, however, so it didn't look likely to keep growing or heal the climbing damage at the bottom thin section.

Curtains were the curtains. Solid, and plenty of climbing space all along it.

Thanks for the update!

Starved rock was good on 1/24. Climbed Wildcat and Tonte.

Thanks DuWayne. Going to try to make it down there this week!

Timothy Labansky and I checked out the Dodge on 1/25.

Cox Hollow was in, totally climbable on both sides, but really beat out.

Stephens Falls wasn't worth the (admittedly short) walk. The main falls is not in (or anywhere close). While there was a climbable line to the right, it was pretty jacked.

If you're going to go, go to Cox Hollow.

Starved rock;
Tonti is a waterfall and Wildcat is dry and although shit ice, totally climbable. I'll post pics later.

Get after it while the after it is still there!

Anyone around La crosse area? Just moved here! If you're looking for a partner for ice let me know. I've got my own stuff except screws and a car.

not conditions related per se, but i found a cord and biner on the approach to cox hollow falls last night. pm me a description to claim it. also the ice at the hollow is beat out at best, though fun for a no tools ascent.

fuzzy in wisco wrote:...also the ice at the hollow is beat out at best, though fun for a no tools ascent.

This should help. :-)