Ice Pits First Annual Ice Fest

For many of us living in Wisconsin we have never experienced the hidden treasure in De Pere, WI called the Ice Pit.  Here is your chance.  Rockman's friend Dan Kopperud has put together a super fun event and opportunity for folks to come out and try some ice climbing.  Here is your official Invite.

In The Spirit Of Adventure,

Rockman

The First Annual Ice Pit Ice Festival & Demo Weekend on January 16-17, 2010

  Climb all weekend for $10 (cash only, please)

 

The Ice Pit is located a few miles west of Green Bay, in De Pere, WI 54115.  Map

 

Check out our massive private ice park and try awesome gear from Marmot, Osprey, Scarpa, Petzl, Sterling Rope, and  Black Diamond.

                              

We’ll also have Kind Bars, Point 6 Socks, SOLE Footbeds, Little Hotties, Red Bull, Yaktrax, the Access Fund, the American Alpine Club and more!

 

After the climbing is over on Saturday come to the Ramada Inn, for a slide show from Dean Einerson, an awesome door prize giveaway and a party in the indoor waterpark.

 

Stay at the Ramada Inn and ask for the special Midwest Ice Climber rate.  Leave your car there and take the free shuttle to and from the climbing.

 

Before you can climb, you'll need the following forms (which can be found by following the links on the menu to the left:)  Click on "members only", click on "forms & info", click on "member forms"

1. Liability & Release Form (#1)

2. Ice Pit Orientation Rules & Regulations Agreement Form (#2)

 

If you have any other questions or information about this event please contact Dan Kopperud.   
 

Sticky Rubber

Over the years, Rockman has had to listen to many climbers debate about which climbing shoe company has the "stickiest" rubber.  The thought being that if the rubber on your climbing shoes is "stickier" you will somehow thwart the power of gravity and send any climb with ease,style and/or grace.  Rockman has always been a sort of buzz kill during these discussions because Rockman does not think it makes that much difference.   Rockman has always believed that a properly fit shoes is way more important than the rubber.  Yet the debate continues. 

Doing a quick Google search for "stickiest rubber," Rockman found several interesting things.  Rockman found lots websites talking about how a specific brand of shoes is the "stickiest."   Apparently other rock climbers have chosen to bring the debate to the internet (who would have thought the internet could be used for such a thing).  That brand has sort of built its reputation and ads around being the "stickiest."  

Another thing Rockman found out is that people who like to make their cars go real fast, real quick, also like to debate
"sticky rubber."  These guys have also took to their debate to the internet.  The most interesting thing Rockman found was a study sponsored by Spadout.  In this article a scientist from the CERN actually devises a test to measure the "stickiness" of climbing shoe rubber.  The article uses words the Nimmer boys would really love like "coefficient of friction."  They also have equations, so it must be legit.

Click here to see the study.

After all of their testing climbers still commented about how the test and the results were flawed because x,y or z brand didn't "win" in the study.  Oh well, the debate continues.

This is the real question climbers should be debating.  What climbing shoe company makes approach shoes that do not leave black marks all over Rockman's wife's clean kitchen floor?  There is no debating that one, she gets ticked. 

In The Spirit Of Adventure,

Rockman

13 Questions with an Adventure Rock Local-Mellisa Giuffre

1. What is your Name? Mellisa Giuffre
   
2. Do you have any Nicknames? If so what are they?
3. How long have you been climbing? 7 Months
   
4. How long have you been climbing at Adventure Rock? 7 months
   
5. What is your favorite part of Adventure Rock? Meeting other climbers and .......Climbing!
   
6. What were you thoughts when you first came to Adventure Rock? Pure Awesomeness!!
   
7. What is you favorite climbing area? The Main Gym
   
8. What is your favorite route and why? Bloods vs. Crimps. It was the first 5.8 I could do and it's super fun.
   
9. What is your favorite piece of climbing gear? My harness, can't top rope without it.
   
10. What do you like about climbing? The rush when you get to the top of a climb.  Physical and mental chalenge
    
11. Tell us about your best day climbing? The day I did 3 5.9s, for me it was pretty amazing.
    
12. If you could change one thing about the sport what would it be? Nothing, I think climbing rocks!
    
13. If you could name a route what would you name it? Mellisa Giuffre's Fancy New Route

And their you have it, another one of the great people who make Adventure Rock such a great place to hang out at.

In the Spirit of Adventure Rock,

Rockman