Some of Lake Superior's five National Parks are closed for the winter. But Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore has become one of the most visited winter recreation areas in the Great Lakes. Headquartered in Munising, Michigan,  Pictured Rocks is home to trails for snowshoeing, skiing, and snowmobiling. The park also ranks as one of the nation's premier ice climbing venues. Coming up February 9, the 30th annual Michigan Ice Fest—the longest-running ice-climbing event in the country—kicks off in Munising. Bill Thompson, climber, co-owner of Down Wind Sports, and event organizer, has been there from the beginning. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Bill shares why the event has grown from a handful of dedicated climbers to over a thousand participants, attracting some of the world's best climbers and those giving the sport a try for the very first time.

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