New film showcases ice climbing in Munising, Michigan
Michigan Ice Film
Director Aaron Peterson debuted “The Michigan Ice Film” last week at the annual Michigan Ice Fest in Munising. The documentary explores the history and culture of the ice climbing community in the Munising area and features dizzying climbing footage from that spectacular stretch of the Lake Superior shore. It’s Aaron’s second production under his Clear & Cold Cinema banner, following 2014’s fat-tire biking documentary “Cold Rolled.”
Aaron, who lives near Marquette and occasionally contributes photos to Lake Superior Magazine, answered a few questions for us this week.
On winter and the themes in his work
“I love winter, plain and simple, and I revel in the harsh and beautiful winter landscape of Lake Superior. Within that landscape there are stories, good stories, untold stories and I simply felt I had to tell them because no one else would, or at least not with the care and depth that I would. ... I’m just showing what actually happens here in my corner of the world and has happened here for 30 years in the case of both winter cycling and ice climbing. Also, I work primarily within the travel industry and winter is a lean time for the communities I care about. If I can help show the globally significant landscape we’re blessed with here, and the fun and adventure that can be had in the winter, then it’s a win for everyone.”
On ice climbing’s potential
“I know Bill Thompson from Michigan Ice Fest has some big plans for growth of the fest in the next few years, but outside of the fest, the ice is still relatively quiet and unclimbed for the most part. I hope climbers continue to travel to and enjoy Munising’s ice outside of the festival, and, also, I hope non-climbers will visit as well. Some of my favorite feedback on the film so far has been from non-climbers who loved the beauty and humor that’s woven in among the climbing action. It really is more than a climbing film, and the ice of Munising really should be on everyone’s bucket list to check out whether you climb or not.”
Ice-stacking video goes viral
Lake Superior Ice Stacking
Minnesota photographer Dawn LaPointe made a mesmerizing video of wind-blown ice breaking up on the Duluth shore. It now has millions of views across YouTube and Facebook. Make sure to turn on the sound, too.
Superior tackles erosion issues
Shelley Nelson, reporting for the Superior Telegram:
The city has applied for a more than $1.2 million in grant funding in an effort to implement a plan to restore Wisconsin Point’s dunes and solve erosion problems along Allouez Bay.
Historic Bayfield County schoolhouse gets new home: The 100-year-old building “was hoisted onto a truck in Port Wing and transferred 18 miles to its new home at the Oulu Cultural and Heritage Society,” reports Heidi Enninga for WDIO-TV.
Minnesota moose population still low: The DNR’s latest aerial survey found no statistically significant change in the population’s size, which is down more than 50 percent over the last 10 years.
Lack of icebreakers and backup lock threaten Great Lakes shipping, report says: The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force’s annual report lists the small size of the icebreaking fleet and a lack of redundancy at the Soo Locks as dangers to the industry, Eric Haun reports for Marine Link. The task force is an 86-member coalition of vessel owners, port authorities and other stakeholders.
Nipigon River Bridge repairs continue: The bridge, which split in January, will be closed early in the morning on Saturday and Sunday. There could be other brief closures throughout the weekend, too, reports the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal.