A Guy in an Orange Jacket Climbing the Ice at Casket Quarry in West Duluth
I should note that this guy is using climbing equipment, and he’d he dead if he wasn’t, because he fell about three minutes after this photo was taken.
I should note that this guy is using climbing equipment, and he’d he dead if he wasn’t, because he fell about three minutes after this photo was taken.
Wow, that’s really cool!
Technically he’s not climbing ice in this photo but is rather climbing what is referred to as a “mixed route.” Mixed meaning it is a route consisting of both rock and ice.
The climber in the photo appears to be on or very close to a route known as “Turkey Chute.” Read more about routes at Casket Quarry on Mountain Project.
Beaten by samh at pedantry.
Yeah, I was wondering if “ice climbing” is the term for climbing near, but not actually on, ice.
He is close to “Turkey Chute,” but I think he’s on “Crescent.”
Casket Quarry: Another climber-named Duluth location that has become part of the popular lexicon (see the discussion about Whoopee Wall in the Point of Rocks post). Local mountaineers were originally inspired, and a little unnerved, by the coffin-like burial vaults stacked along the railroad tracks here. The vaults used be manufactured in the building that has now been recycled (ironically) as Loll manufacturing, a company that recycles plastic milk jugs into sweet outdoor furniture. Loll is clearly missing the boat by not capitalizing on this location and incorporating brightly colored sarcophagi into their product line… scratch that, I see they make planters.
A moment of silence, please, for the Polaris Wilbert Vault Company of West Duluth. R.I.P.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Whoppe Wall discussion of recent so this Casket Quarry photo was a nice continuation. In regard to which route he is climbing he is closer to “Crescent” than “Turkey Chute” when you compare the photos using the graffiti atop the crag as a comparative feature.
I’m pretty sure that is Adam Dailey climbing. He is the owner of Superior Kettlebell Gym on Michigan Street.
I don’t think it’s Adam Dailey. The guy fell about 10 feet at one point and his friend at the bottom shouted up, “You OK, Scott?”
PDD’s Fairy Research Spy sent me this image of an ice climb for comparison to a mixed route.
This shot is from the Sandstone Ice Festival, held in December at Robinson Park. They farm the ice there for the annual climbing event.
You’re correct Paul. I spoke with Adam Dailey this morning and he said that this is Scott Backe (sp?). Adam also wears an orange coat sometimes while climbing but can confirm that he did not fall at Casket recently.
LOVE that pic Paul, the ice looks so cool!
Digit3, you must mean Scott Backes. He’s a pretty well-known climber, but the orange jacket doesn’t match. Maybe it’s new to his wardrobe.
Here’s a quarry-climbing video. The Vodpod page I’m embedding it from attributes the video to Fox 21 Online from Jan. 15, 2010.
Awesome! Here is a pic from climbing an ice wall on Devils Track River last spring.
Life to the Max – Sandstone & Ice
See how the town of Sandstone, Minnesota and ice climbers have developed a unique partnership that has created an amazing winter ice park for everyone to enjoy.