starved rock state park ice climbing

STARVED ROCK STATE PARK ICE CLIMBING 2014. CANYONS OPEN TO ICE CLIMBING ARE WILDCAT, LASALLE, TONTY AND OTTAWA CANYONS. ALL OTHER CANYONS ARE OFF LIMITS TO ICE CLIMBING. SIGN IN AND OUT AT PARK MAINTENANCE BUILDING. REGISTRATION SHEETS AND INFORMATION ARE POSTED THERE.

FRENCH CANYON WAS INCORRECTLY POSTED AND HAS BEEN REMOVED. It is not open to ice climbing.

Mark told me today that ALL of French is off limits... too bad...

Update for 1-16-14. Went out for a recon hike today. Found 2 climbers had signed in and reported yesterday, Wed. They found no ice in Tonti, and found a crack in the top of Wildcat. Didn't say if they climbed it. Photos attached show today what Wildcat looks like. Hear that Ottowa is still in OK, and LaSalle was as of last Sunday. As posted above, there is no more access or use to any ice formation anywhere in French Canyon for this season. IF Tonti reforms both ice formations, that will leave us with a total of 5 total ice formations to use within the entire park for legal climbing these days. Right now, Wildcat appears the best bet to survive any bad meltouts or heavy rain in days ahead. Deep freeze is coming back by early next week anyway. Always sign in and out at lower maintenance office area as usual. Stay on trails, no cramps' on boardwalk, careful access to uppper belay setup areas with minimal damage please. And never dry tool or wander off to climb any sandstone rock and ice spots next to full ice towers. Thanks.

Woodchuck ATC wrote:Update for 1-16-14. Went out for a recon hike today. Found 2 climbers had signed in and reported yesterday, Wed. They found no ice in Tonti, and found a crack in the top of Wildcat. Didn't say if they climbed it. Photos attached show today what Wildcat looks like. Hear that Ottawa is still in OK, and LaSalle was as of last Sunday. As posted above, there is no more access or use to any ice formation anywhere in French Canyon for this season. IF Tonti reforms both ice formations, that will leave us with a total of 5 total ice formations to use within the entire park for legal climbing these days. Right now, Wildcat appears the best bet to survive any bad melt-outs or heavy rain in days ahead. Deep freeze is coming back by early next week anyway. Always sign in and out at lower maintenance office area as usual. Stay on trails, no cramps' on boardwalk, careful access to upper belay setup areas with minimal damage please. And never dry tool or wander off to climb any sandstone rock and ice spots next to full ice towers. Thanks.