The thirteenth annual Sandstone Ice Festival was held over the frigid weekend of January 5, 6, and 7, 2018.
The Sandstone Ice Park in Sandstone, Minn. started to accumulate the brave Friday late morning.
Average temperatures hovered at -8 °F. It was cold. The ice was brittle and the sounds were crisp.
Friday evening at the Gas Light Bar allowed fresh arrivals and those who had been out all day a place to visit and have a drink. Once the building’s heating got going after a late evening repair, all was well. The Gas Light Bar is a climber’s tradition and has supported climbing in Sandstone and the Festival since day one. Stop by.
The Audubon Center of The North Woods made available a delicious dinner and a warm dormitory room for those digging in for the weekend. Several of us met up here in the evening. We took over one of the rooms and did some minor quality control on the donated Festival beer from Lakes and Legends and Bauhaus Brew Labs.
Saturday was the day. It saw the largest crowds and most action. After the traditional breakfast at Amy’s Country Café, we headed down to The Ice Park. The Minnesota Climbers Association’s tent went up. Followed by Black Diamond, Arc’teryx and The Twin Cites Chapter of the American Alpine Club. The Black Diamond tent hosted rental gear graciously made available to The Festival from The University of Minnesota Duluth’s Outdoor Program.
Clinics started at 10am and participants made their way up to the freshly farmed School Room Area on the South End of The Park. I love seeing people taking clinics. They are new to this activity and diving right in. I hope it is as rewarding and activity for all of them as it is for me.
Temperature reached a high of 12 °F a cozy contrast to Friday.
After a great day ice climbing, attendees made their way over to The Audubon Center of The North Woods for evening fun. There was dinner, a huge Gear Swap, and a raffle. This is one of the MCA’s biggest fundraisers. All proceeds get funneled to support the mission statement of the non-profit. Professional climber Angela VanWiemeersch gave an intimate and from-the-heart presentation on her journey from a competitive ice skater to an ice climber and highlighted ice adventures in Utah and elsewhere. Most of the crowd stayed late in the dinning hall talking climbing, planning trips, telling stories, and finishing up all of that donated beer. A few of us again retired to a comparatively quite dorm room and sipped a few more.
Sunday started, again per tradition, with another heaty breakfast at Amy’s. More clinics were available. Over the weekend roughly 50 climbers attended clinics. An estimate of 150 -200 climbers in attendance over the course of the weekend is about right.
Sunday was my day. I got in the most climbs and had the most fun talking with friends old and new. A highlight of the day was following James’ lead on a thin and narrow swath of ice on a blank rock wall.
This was the second year that The Minnesota Climbers Association organized the event. We’re still working out some kinks and smoothing things out. In late 2016 the MCA was approached by the previous organizer, Tony Vavricka, about taking ownership of the event. Tony has been helping with the transition, as well as with the ice farming. Here’s a short history of the event with borrowed from the website, and a few updates:
2005 The Sandstone Ice Festival had its beginnings in the spring of 2005 when a small group of climbers approached the city of Sandstone, Minnesota to discuss the possibility of establishing a local ice climbing festival in Robinson Park Quarry.
2006 First ever Frozen Kettle Chili Cook-off, a tradition is born. It all started with a couple of climbers wanting to share a warm meal. The Chili Cook-off has become an annual Ice Festival tradition.
2007 Ice Climbing Elvis makes a surprise visit to the Festival.
2008 The Sandstone Ice Festival continues to deliver fun and adventure
2009 Professional ice climber Dawn Glanc visits the festival and gives a slideshow to a packed crowd of winter sports lovers.
2010 The Sandstone Ice Festival gets a shout-out from the National Geographic Explorer Magazine.
2011 First year of the Robinson Quarry Ice Park. Organized by the Minnesota Climbers Association and supported by the city of Sandstone, city water lines are extended to create Minnesota’s first Ice Park.
2012 Ice Park expanded to add Class II ice providing access to beginner climbers. The Sandstone Ice Festival is featured on WCCO’s Finding Minnesota.
2013 Sandstone Ice Festival partners with Hard Water Sports to continue to grow and promote the event.
2014 Sandstone Ice Festival celebrates ten years of Iciness.
2015 Another great Festival
2016 The Festival was sadly cancelled due to unseasonably warm temperatures not favorable to making ice.
2017 The Minnesota Climbers Association’s first stab at ice Festival organizing. Evening activities moved to The Audubon Center of The North Woods.
2018 Year two for the MCA. Professional climber Angela VanWiemeersch joins us at The Audubon Center of The North Woods for a stellar presentation and climbing in The Park
I look forward to helping to make The Sandstone Ice Festival fourteen the best event ever. As the MCA there is definite room for improvement. We can make it all go smoother and less chaotic. I know those of us who have our boots on the ground, on the front lines stress out more than needed. We are recreating after all.
Over the years, I’ve had amazing times at The Sandstone Ice Festival. I want those to continue and for others new to the ice have their own.
