[Hide Comment] This crag was opened out by Paul Ross and assistant while working for Minn Outward Bound School about 1973/4 .At that time here was not even a trail out to the cliff . There was a massive amount of loose rock on most of the climbs when first ascended.At this time about 12 climbs were first ascended up to 5.10, some for the use of students and some for their own personal fun. I think Palisade Head had one or two climbs on before anything was done on Shovel Point. Descriptions of the first ascents were left at Minn OB but I believe they were lost .. ? Jan 25, 2009

[Hide Comment] Paul,
Was that the story for Palisade as well? Jan 26, 2009

[Hide Comment] Great new hangers now at the tops of the most often climbed pitches!
I am honored to be part of a community that was able to make this happen. Let the regrowth begin! May 4, 2011

[Hide Comment] "The more moderate of Tettegouche's two sea cliff crags, Shovel is . . ."

I'm sorry, but despite how large Superior is, it IS a lake, hence the North Shore's cliffs are lake cliffs--NOT sea cliffs.

Go to the Redwood Coast or Acadia for true sea cliff climbing here in the USA! Sep 8, 2011

[Hide Comment] Matthias,
Your observation is about as meaningful as which came first, the chicken or the egg. Climb on Palisade Head or Shovel Point and you know what sea cliff climbing is all about. Sep 8, 2011

[Hide Comment] You are right and I apologise for being a stickler for semantics. And please don't get me wrong, I'm sure it is especially lovely, committing, and fun---I'd be honored to climb there someday as I truly LOVE cliffs by water.
But the water on the ocean sometimes has big waves, and I mean big ones, and the air and the roar create a briny aroma which permeates everything... Sep 18, 2011

[Hide Comment] salt air? nope

big enough body of water to generate its own weather? check

big waves? define big, i do know on a rough day it makes me nervous to turn my back to the lake as i stand on the shore.

Hardest of the hardcore surf the lake in the winter. Sep 19, 2011

[Hide Comment] I was up at Shovel Point this past weekend, and while having some fun on Soldier of God we noticed some peregrine falcons switching spots on a nest just around the corner from us. When I spoke to park staff about it, she said that they aren't sure how many nesting pairs there are on Shovel Point this year and that they were getting ready to start putting up definitive route closure signs soon. I would guess that it is possible that Out on a Limb through Soldier of God will be closed through nesting season. Apr 24, 2012

[Hide Comment] Define big, eh? Well, whilst new routing on sea cliffs on The Redwood Coast years ago (on the cliff itself proper, not "standing on the shore," my belayer was inundated by a rogue wave which rolled in from the Far East, all the way across the North Pacific Ocean, knocked him almost unconscious & off his stance. Had he not been anchored, I would have been pulled from the tenuous moves I was making.

So sorry, as fantastic as your area is, and it does look wonderful, it is still a LAKE cliff. Perhaps with "nailing and bolting ... not allowed," no wonder you are a bit testy about your especially beautiful place.

That would be deplorable! TR-ing a new line from the rim and not being able to bolt it for a some real adrenaline on the sharp end...or scoping an amazing traverse just above those glorious wave-lets, and not even be able to pound a KB or bolt...unless you covertly did it and then did not document it, except via word of mouth...that would be pleasant...

Oh, and having done many new routes on actual sea cliffs, I think I know what true sea cliff climbing is all about, thank you. ;-D Sep 9, 2012

[Hide Comment] @Matthias Holladay:

big = "Annual storms on Lake Superior regularly record wave heights of over 6 metres (20 ft). Waves well over 9 metres (30 ft) have been recorded." - wiki Jan 23, 2013

[Hide Comment] I understand the no-chalk policy. However, is it acceptable to use chalkless chalk or organic chalk? I'm about to climb up at Tettegouche for the first time, and I just want to make sure that I don't upset anybody, hurt the rock, or upset the peregrines and others in the local habitat (and I don't really want to start/continue the chalk vs no chalk debate, I'm just asking a practical question).

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Aug 23, 2013

[Hide Comment] Hello All,
Hoping someone could give me some pointers about this area. We'll be coming from Colorado so trying to better understand the system at this crag.

#1) It sounds like you rap down to start the climbs but does your belay partner stay up top? If your partner stays up top and isn't doing a hanging belay isn't it kind of awkward to belay?

#2) If you rap down to the start of the climb are there anchors at the base(if you're hanging) you lock into before your belayer can put you on belay after rapping down or does the belayer just lower you?

#3) Next, what length webbing are we talking about when it comes to building your own anchor system at the top? Do we need to bring cams to build an anchor along with cordelette?

Sure would appreciate any direction offered as we're used to multi-pitch sport and trad but this is a little new to us.

Thanks much,
Chico Jul 31, 2020

[Hide Comment] Just posting here to revive/settle this thread's 10 year old debate over using the term "sea".
From Atlas Obscura: "For many, the Great Lakes are indeed greater than lakes. The United States Environmental Protection Agency, for example, describes them as “vast inland freshwater seas.” A seminal 2017 paper in Limnology and Oceanography, authored by some of the most influential researchers studying the lakes, also refers to them as ‘inland seas.’" So, while an authoritative technical definition for 'sea' may elude us, you're among good company when referring to Gitche Gumee (Lake Superior) as a 'sea'. Feb 10, 2023

[Hide Comment] You can't tell me that's not the ocean. Feb 23, 2023