Vertical Ventures Rock Climbing & Wilderness Programs

08/26/2024

For those of us of a particular era he was an inspiring and larger than life soul and spirit. Cut from a different cloth than most of the rest of us. He will be missed and we wish him godspeed on his next journey.

Tom Brown Jr., who was considered the country’s foremost authority on wilderness survival, and who taught thousands of people how to track deer, fletch arrows, forage for food and generally thrive in the great outdoors, died on Aug. 16 in Neptune, N.J. He was 74. His son Coty confirmed the death, ...

08/19/2024

No right answer but lots to consider.

Opinion by Marek Warszawski: “It’s a wonder more people haven’t died.”

08/09/2024

There's a lot of stupid in the field of rock climbing these days and sometimes land manages contribute to it unwittingly. This might be one of those instances although it's curtsy only up for debate. What isn't up of debate is that a young woman died while ascending a nontechnical cable climb of El Cap in Yosemite. She did o while her father washed helplessly unable to do anything. This is a thoughtful read and we wanted to share it with you.

Jonathan Rohloff is still reeling from the horror of watching his 20-year-old daughter slide to her death off Yosemite's Half Dome. He said his request for more safeguards on the century-old climbing cables that lead to the summit has met with "deafening" silence from park officials.

06/20/2024

Posted again kidlings, it's still hotter than your high school english teacher out there.

09/26/2023

We'll take good news when we find it and this surely is some.

A longtime fixture on the Grand River Ave. stretch between MSU campus and East Lansing is shuttering next month. Moosejaw, 555 E. Grand River Ave., has been on the strip for 28 years. Sarah Cassell…

09/06/2023

Well, hell, yet another significant and irreplaceable passing.

Owner Rod Johnson says the store will close in October. But first, they're having a liquidation sale.

04/06/2023

Spring has sprung. Time to get your morels on.

01/26/2023

URGENT WARNING!!!! I post this video every year around this time. The Massive amount of snow that is still falling will only serve to insulate barely frozen pond and lake ice and keep marginal iced over surfaces, even more so. They are treacherous and not to be trusted under any circumstances. Keep your dogs off of em too. Watch this video and please share. Great snow does not equal good ice. In fact it is just the opposite. Stay safe, stay off of the ice. No ice is safe ice right now.

BAD ICE II - Jake, Boo and I were back at West Park today doing our thing and I went out to the pond and tested the ice. O M G. Please watch this video, com...

01/26/2023

URGENT WARNING!!!! I post this video every year around this time. The Massive amount of snow that is still falling will only serve to insulate barely frozen pond and lake ice and keep marginal iced over surfaces, even more so. They are treacherous and not to be trusted under any circumstances. Keep your dogs off of em too. Watch this video and please share. Great snow does not equal good ice. In fact it is just the opposite. Stay safe, stay off of the ice. No ice is safe ice right now.

02/28/2022

Ontario’s canoe country isn’t confined to Algonquin—escape portage trail traffic and discover incredible paddling at these parks less travelled.

02/17/2022

02/17/2022

A very very dangerous storm is afoot and if you go out in it you are vulnerable and seriously at risk for frostbite or death. This is the most serious storm I've seen in some years. STAY HOME.

08/27/2021

Horne Fire Update: 8-26-21

The Horne Fire is 15% contained and is about 230 acres in size. A 20-person fire crew from Minnesota arrived on the island today to help with fire control and containment efforts. Check out the most recent maps of the Horne Fire and more fire information at https://www.nps.gov/isro/wildfires-at-isle-royale.htm.

📷Image Description: Map of Horne Fire Progress. NPS Photo.

08/24/2021

Update on fire closures on Isle Royale N.P.

News Release: Horne Fire Burning in Isle Royale National Park Closures and Fire Restrictions

Work continues on the approximately 200-acre Horne Fire, which ignited on August 10 near the Duncan Bay/Tobin Harbor Portage Trail on Isle Royale National Park. The cause of ignition is suspected to be lightning. The fire is now 15% contained.

The health and safety of employees and visitors is our primary concern. Additional fire management objectives are to contain the fire to the east of the Duncan Bay/Tobin Harbor Portage Trail, and to extinguish fire on Minong Island. Closed areas are signed and monitored to ensure compliance. The following closures are in place until further notice:

🔴Lane Cove Trail and Campground
🔴Greenstone Ridge Trail East of Mount Franklin Junction
🔴Mount Franklin Trail between the Greenstone Ridge Trail and the Tobin Harbor Trail (the 1/2-mile trail section of the Mount Franklin Trail between the Tobin Harbor Trail and Rock Harbor Trail will remain open as conditions allow)
🔴Duncan Bay Campground and Dock
🔴Duncan Bay/Tobin Harbor Portage Trail
🔴Duncan Narrows Campground and Dock
🔴Tobin Harbor Dock (with the exception of the seaplane dock for the concessions seaplane operation as conditions allow)
🔴Hidden Lake Dock
🔴Hidden Lake Trail and Lookout Louise
🔴Merritt Lane Campground and Dock
🔴Stoll Trail and Scoville Point
🔴Cross-Country Camping Zones 8, 9, 10, 11, 34, 35, 36 are closed for camping as well as cross-country day use
🔴Other areas if directed by fire personnel

Employees from the National Park Service, Hiawatha National Forest, and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa have responded to the fire. Their work includes patrols in Tobin Harbor to protect historic structures. One outhouse was burned in the fire on Minong Island, but no other structures have been damaged at this time.

Air support is being coordinated through the National Wildfire Coordinating Groups with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to provide reconnaissance and monitoring. Fixed wing aircraft are being used as needed to provide additional confirmation of the fire size and spread. Single Engine Air Tankers conducted water-drops on hot spots earlier this week.

Fire status will be continually evaluated as conditions change. The National Park Service is working with fire weather forecasters and fire behavior analysts to manage the fire appropriately. Most of Isle Royale National Park remains open to visitors. Campgrounds in the Rock Harbor, Three Mile, and Daisy Farm areas are more crowded as visitors relocate from closed areas. Due to ongoing drought conditions and elevated levels of fire danger, all park areas are closed to the lighting and maintaining of wood fires. Charcoal fires are only allowed in grills at Rock Harbor, Windigo, and Mott Island. Self-contained gas, propane, alcohol, and twig stoves are allowed. Be sure to monitor the Current Conditions information on the park website if you are planning a trip. https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/current-conditions-at-isle-royale.htm

Visit the Wildfires at Isle Royale web page for photos and other information about the Horne Fire. https://www.nps.gov/isro/wildfires-at-isle-royale.htm

03/16/2021

COVID Policy for 2021 - When we are able to resume offering in-person adventure programs, courses, and camps, we will of course have all recommended and required safety and health protocols in place. As of this date anyone not abiding by our health protocols such as wearing a mask or other requirements will be reminded one time. Upon the second infraction the participant will be asked to leave the course with full forfeiture of all course fees. If this seems a harsh consequence, it is, but the safety, health, and welfare of our participants and staff comes first and we will not waver in our efforts to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time. These are difficult and strange times to be sure. We are dedicated to being on the front edge of doing all we can to make sure we all get through this pandemic in a way that keeps us all safe and well. It's as simple as that. - The Management

02/20/2021

Italian rescuers find an injured man who says his dog helped him to survive.

02/08/2021

While I would love to be wrong, I don't believe this story will end well. One helluva read all the same.

At 1 a.m. Saturday local time, three climbers were above 27,000 feet on K2, facing a technical descent in bitter cold and the accumulated fatigue of nearly 48 hours without sleep. Hours before, Bulgarian climber Antanas Skatov fell to his death lower on the mountain. Muhammad Ali Sadpara of Pakistan...

02/04/2021

Disappointing news but the responsible thing to do. Already looking ahead to 2022 🐾🐾

From the ski slopes to the snow trails, decreased snowfall and heightened risk of COVID-19 has made this winter season a strange one for many Michiganders