DAN KITTLE
For The State News
CARP LAKE, Mich. - It’s just after 6 a.m., and the blaring sounds of buzzing alarm clocks pierce the hunting cabins’ paper-thin walls.
About a dozen MSU Outing Club members haul their fatigued bodies out of sleeping bags and blankets, throwing on countless layers of clothing in preparation for the wintry conditions.
Weary and bleary-eyed, the group clumsily tiptoes into the kitchen, whispering over a breakfast of oatmeal and Cheerios. As the 7 o’clock hour nears, the students gather their belongings and pile into three cars. The sun still has not risen in the Northern Michigan sky, and the temperature remains frigid when the cars depart.
Back in the cabins, the few remaining club members hear the cars heading off into the morning darkness. Pulling their sleeping bags closer to their chins, the students turn over and fall back into a deep sleep.
Anticipation of an adventure
High on caffeine and adrenaline, the group members chat in anticipation of the day’s event. In just a few hours, these students will be wielding ice axes and ascending frozen waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula - a feat most of them have never tackled before.
Some appear nervous; others calmly relate the experience to rock climbing, believing that ice climbing can’t be much different.
Criminal justice senior Sarah Latta, though, readily admits her uneasiness.
“I’m a little scared,” she says. “I think it’ll be cool though.”
The driver of her car, construction management junior Tim Justin, shakes his head in response.
“It’s just like rock climbing with axes,” he shrugs. “That’s what I’m looking forward to.”
The ride goes smoothly, with little traffic keeping the crew from quickly reaching their destination. Pulling into the small town of Munising, the members park in front of Sydney’s Shark Bay Bar and unload.
The students head upstairs, get fitted for helmets, climbing boots with crampons (special attachments for digging into the ice), ice axes and harnesses.
Soon they are piled into a shuttle van en route to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
An unforgettable experience
When the van drops the group off, the students trek a half-mile through snow-covered woods to the climbing site. The trail is narrow and windy, and more than once, the students must hurdle icy creeks and climb over fallen trees.
The group arrives at its destination: a pair of 30-foot high frozen waterfalls. The falls drop from a steep, picturesque cliff, creating a backdrop for a long day of climbing.
Following a brief instructional lesson from a Wisconsin-based guide, the students are ready to embark on their adventure.
The members navigate their way up the falls, digging their axes and boots into the ice. They strategically drive their tools into the most solid ice available, using the instruments to propel them toward the top. Once they have reached the summit, and the other members now appear as small as figurines, the climbers make their way back down the waterfall, drained of energy - but exhilarated.
Taking turns ascending the five different climbing locations, they sharpen their skills as the day progresses.
Making lunch out of partially frozen Pop-Tarts and granola bars, the students brave the arctic, wintry conditions and make the most out of the experience.
“I had a really good time,” English junior Julie Stafford says while trying to warm her feet between climbs.
For Stafford, a longtime rock climber, this is her first time scaling the ice.
“I like this a lot,” she says. “I think I like it even more than rock climbing. It’s so expensive, but it’s definitely something I think about now.”
As the 4 o’clock hour quickly approaches, the group gets in a few final climbs before heading back to Sydney’s. With forearms aching and bodies sporting a handful of bumps and bruises, the members are exhausted. But their spirits remain high.
“I thought it was hard and scary,” says Latta. “I was scared about the whole ice pick action. But it’s definitely a good challenge, and I think people should get into it.
“I mean, you’re climbing waterfalls, you know? That was great. You’re going back to school this week, and people are going to be like, ‘What did you do this weekend?’ And you’re going to be like, ‘Oh, I climbed some waterfalls.’ How sweet is that?”
Jeremy Yeates, a supply chain management sophomore and second-year climber, said the trip was great.
“I had a lot of fun,” he said. “I just like it because it’s a challenge you don’t normally do. I love the look on people’s faces when you tell them about it.”
Packaging senior Jared Ward, the club’s co-president and a five-year member, always loves the annual trip to Munising.
“It was cool,” he said. “It’s killer. There’s a ton of people up here and everybody’s climbing. I mean, you’re out there today, and you’re hiking through snow-covered forest, climbing up a big old cliff lined with geological features and stuff. That’s just neat.”
The club
For the MSU Outing Club, it is the group’s third trip to Munising. Many would find the idea of climbing frozen waterfalls quite intimidating, but for this group of students, it’s just another exhilarating weekend trip.
“It’s a great starting point for lots of different types of adventures,” Ward says. “You can do anything you want. It’s not rocket science. We try to promote an attitude of, ‘Come with an open mind and be flexible.’ Anytime you get a group of people who are open-minded and flexible, you’re going to have a good time.”
“It’s good,” parks and recreation sophomore Mike Burditt says of the club. “Really anyone that’s in it can do something they like. It’s such a good variety. If you can’t find something that you like on one of our trips, you’re really odd.”
In addition to their annual ice climbing trip, the club of nearly 300 heads to West Virginia every fall for white-water rafting. This weekend, the members will be downhill skiing in Searchmont, Ontario, and later this semester, a trip to Pinckney, Mich., for mountain biking awaits.
Worth the trip
As the weekend draws to a close, the group packs up and heads back to the realities of campus life. Already worn out from a long and thrilling trip, the members dread the mountain of work awaiting them.
“I have a ton of homework,” Stafford sighs. “I had no business going anywhere this weekend.”
Jason Jeffrey, a computer science sophomore, wasn’t looking forward to facing the homework he had left behind. “I’ll be doing it until late tonight,” he says.
Despite their ominous workload, the club members deny any regrets regarding the trip.
“It was definitely worth my time,” Jeffrey insists. “I had a lot of fun.”
“It was definitely still worth the trip,” Stafford agrees, though her weekend took an unusual turn when she ran out of gas on her way home. “I knew it would be. I had a great time this weekend. I’m definitely going to go back.”
For more information on the MSU Outing Club, visit www.msu.edu/user/outing.
