My City February 2023

with waves smacking the wall below you, knowing that you are safe on a rope but feeling perilously close to the foamy water below," she says. "The crashing waves, ripping wind and bullet-hard ice all juxtaposed with skiing or hiking through quiet, snowy woods to get there makes for some satisfying days out." Conrad Anker, one of America's most accomplished mountaineers, first attended Ice Fest in 2014 as part of a team making “Nation al Parks Adventure”, an IMAX film celebrating the National Park Service's 100th anniversary. Summiting Mount Everest three times and establishing new climbing routes around the world, including the extremely difficult Shark's Fin in the Himalayas of northern India, are just a sample of Anker’s achievements. "I return to the Michigan Ice Fest for the community because the people are wonderful, warm and inviting," he says. "The hardwood forest and expanse of Lake Superior, combined with the sandstone bluffs running with pigment from the iron, all pull together to make Michigan ice climbing unique in the world." Among the other featured athletes this year is Barry Blanchard, a leg endary master of difficult first ascents around the world, who has appeared in several climbing documentaries and served as a consultant on movies like “Cliffhanger” and “Vertical Limit”. Renowned mountain guide Emilie Drinkwater will deliver a presentation

on leading a historic all-female climb to the highest point in Afghani stan. Another notable presentation features members of Full Circle Everest, the first all-Black climbing team to reach the top of the world. There is also Carlos Buhler, who has summited six of the world’s nine-highest peaks, including leading the first successful climb of Everest’s east-facing side. He is the first American to reach the top of Khangchendzonga, the world’s third-highest mountain. “The week is crazy for me, going from early morning to late at night, but what I love the most is seeing all the people I have not seen in a year and catching up,”Thompson says. “It’s been awesome getting to know people like Barry and Carlos. Barry is such a great human being, who has done so much to advance climbing and Carlos looks like some body’s grandfather. You’d never know what an amazing career he’s had.” Ice Fest also boasts numerous courses and clinics, an extensive gear raffle and the chance to meet representatives from leading outdoor apparel and equipment companies. "Ice Fest offers the safest op portunity for anyone to try ice climbing for the first time be cause it would be dangerous to try to figure it out on your own," Thompson states. "World-class instruction and guided climbs for all skill levels are offered from near downtown Munising to the

Pictured Rocks backcountry. Equipment and transportation are taken care of." Thompson, who has attended every Ice Fest as a participant or organizer, never dreamed he would witness the event grow from a handful of friends seeking out the best ice climbing around Munis ing to more than 1,100 people last year. "I would say the biggest reason Ice Fest keeps growing is the chance for people to spend time with and learn from some of the world's best climbers," he says. "It's like going to a basketball camp with Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Stephen Curry as instructors.The social aspect of so many people with a com mon interest coming together, talking about their experiences and bouncing ideas off each other is huge too and one of my favorites aspects of the week." Thompson loves to recount the story of his own climbing journey which began in the mid-1980s when NMU professor Phil Watts, known as the “Godfather of Marquette Climbing”, took him and Ronis rock climbing for the first time.Thompson was introduced to ice climbing the following winter. They continued climbing with Watts, who died on December 29 at 71, for the next three decades. "At the time, I didn't even know climbing existed in Michigan, but it only took a second to fall in love with it on that first trip with Phil," Thompson recalls. "The same thing happened after my first ice climbing experience. I was absolutely hooked."

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