Frozen Falls, Crashing Waves: ‘Michigan Ice Film’ Reveals Lake Superior Climbing Mecca

Written by Stephen Regenold Feb 23, 2016 2:20 p.m. ET

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[leadin]Water drips, and ice forms in massive curtains along the shore of Lake Superior. Welcome to Michigan’s U.P., where sandstone cliffs, frigid temps, and the world’s largest lake set a stage for some of the best ice climbing on the continent.[/leadin]

In a new production by Clear & Cold Cinema, “The Michigan Ice Film,” director Aaron Peterson captures the intensity and spirit at one of the country’s least-known meccas for climbing ice.

The 1h 11min documentary is currently on the film fest circuit as well as available for rent or purchase from Vimeo on Demand.

michigan-ice-climbing- — Steep ice! An advanced route

boat-on-lake-superior — Boat access (even in winter) on Lake Superior to get to the ice climbs

michigan — Rappelling in: Many climbs in Munising are accessed from above, climbers lowering over Lake Superior water

Munising’s northerly location grants a long ice-climbing season

ice-mecca — Sandstone cliffs drop into Lake Superior along miles of shoreline

climber-on-ice — Spot the climber… getting into the meat of a hard lead

filming-ice-climbing — Action on the “set” of the ‘Michigan Ice Film’

Aaron-Peterson — Director Aaron Peterson

ice — Step on over… moving from one frozen fall to the next

frozen-waterfall — Massive pillar of ice

frozen-falls — A peek from behind the (ice) curtain

Stephen Regenold

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Stephen Regenold is the founder of GearJunkie, which he launched as a nationally syndicated newspaper column in 2002. As a journalist, writer, and gear nerd, Regenold has covered the outdoors industry for over two decades, including as a correspondent for the New York Times. A father of five, Regenold and his wife, Tara, live in Minneapolis.