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Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 2:55 am
by RadiatingHope
I'll be going to MN for work on the weekend of Feb 1st and thought it would be fun to tag on some ice climbing - any recommendations for location or a guide service?

I usually go climbing each year in North Conway up Huntington Ravine with a guide - I'm intermediate level and am looking for one fun day on the ice, preferably a multi-pitch area if that exists.

Sorry I'm totally naive about MN ice!

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 2:05 pm
by ExcitableBoy
I've not been, but a climbing partner told me he visited an ice climbing park near the Twin Cities. A quick Google search came up with these:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sandston ... 5004840616

http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=1402

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Sat Dec 21, 2013 7:20 pm
by Jesus Malverde
RadiatingHope,
FWIW:
Midwestern Mountaineering is one of the better "mountain" shops in the Midwest. They are located in Minneapolis and a call or email might reveal some good ice info/what's in shape:
http://www.midwestmtn.com/ask-us/climbing
http://www.midwestmtn.com/company/contact-us
Toll-free: 888–999–1077
Best,
JM
Also: http://www.sandstoneicefest.com/icefest_access.html

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 1:56 am
by BigMitch
Sandstone Ice Park, about 90 miles north of MSP is the place to go. Loads of near vertical routes of ice and mixed to choose from.

I was there on Sunday and conditions were great.

St. Paul is not allowing ice climbing this winter pending a safety review. A couple of school kids got killed in The Brickyards last spring by landslides.

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 2:01 am
by BigMitch
Forgot to add that the Sandstone Ice Park is farmed with routes from about 40-60 ft high in Robinson Park.

Easy to do top ropes into the bolted anchors. To set a top rope, you follow the boot track to the North end of the park near the train bridge across the river.

Camping in the park is permitted.

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 2:05 am
by BigMitch
If you have any questions, please let me know. I go there about every other weekend.

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 2:06 am
by BigMitch
If you have any questions, please let me know. I go there about every other weekend.

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 2:33 am
by ExcitableBoy
You mid-westerns have it so good. The ice formed for exactly one week here in Washington.

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Wed Dec 25, 2013 4:33 am
by Matt Lemke
People come to Washington from all over the country for climbing and mountaineering and other outdoor activities... ice climbing just isn't one of them ;)

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Thu Dec 26, 2013 12:49 am
by BigMitch
We have lots of cold here in the Upper Midwest, but we can't go ice cIimbing in the summer like you can in Washington.

If i had one place to move to, it would be Washington. But, i found that is cheaper to buy plane tickets twice a year to Seattle than to move there. :-)

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Thu Dec 26, 2013 1:19 am
by Matt Lemke
BigMitch wrote:We have lots of cold here in the Upper Midwest, but we can't go ice cIimbing in the summer like you can in Washington.

If i had one place to move to, it would be Washington. But, i found that is cheaper to buy plane tickets twice a year to Seattle than to move there. :-)


True statement! Take it from someone who grew up in the Seattle area...it's better to visit western WA a bunch in the summer and early fall than to live there.

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 1:45 am
by BigMitch
Plenty of good ice at the Sandstone Ice Park today!

If you want a good multi-pitch route, head up to The Nightfall on the North Shore.

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 2:38 pm
by BigMitch
Although the purpose of the original poster has elapsed, I add a link to this video for anyone who wants to see what the Sandstone Ice Park has to offer.

Not quite Ouray, but moving in the right direction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSTrQPA9 ... pp=desktop

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 5:21 pm
by barney800
Hello. I just came across this thread. I'm in Minneapolis this weekend and would love to get out to Sandstone, but am lacking a climbing partner. Does anyone know where I might find one? I've been going along to VE during the week and asking around a bit, but haven't had any luck so far. And I'd rather avoid the cost of a guided trip if possible, as I'm comfortable top-roping or cleaning climbs independently. Cheers!

Re: Ice climbing near twin cities?

PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2014 3:04 am
by BigMitch
You might try the Minnesota Climbing Facebook page.