wisconsin

On episode 313, I sit down in the Enormocast headquarters in Carbondale, CO with two OG Devil’s Lake climbers: Dave Groth and Leo Hermacinski. Groth is a veritable legend amongst the purple quartzite walls and blocs of DL, and Leo was there to witness many of his finest moments. As members of the infamous DLFA, they both dipped into to the merry debauchery that went along side the rough and tumble ascents of the late 70s and early 80s. More than that, they travelled the world as climbers and soaked up the traditions of Sheffield, Arapiles, Czechoslovakia, Boux, and beyond. Leo wrote the guidebook, and Dave etched in some of the boldest ascents. Though they both rambled out, Dave and Leo’s hearts and minds were always returning to Devil’s Lake.

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On Episode 297 of the Enormocast, I sit down in Munising, Michigan with local Midwest legend, Paul Kuenn. In his youth near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Paul was drawn to the outdoors: fly-fishing, cross-country skiing, and finally, climbing at Devil’s Lake. Climbing became obsession which brought him to the PNW to become a guide and to Colorado to ply his craft as a guide but also a builder. But the upper midwest drew him back, and Paul set out on a mission to find and climb ice all around Lake Superior. He also created Dairyland Expeditions which specialized in alpine training in Wyoming and Montana, and guiding ice in Munising. Paul also help organized and popularize the AMGA. Now decades later, Paul still revels in the ice climbing community he helped to form on the lonely ice flows of Lake Superior and attends the Michigan Ice Fest nearly without fail since its inception in a tiny cabin on the shore of mighty Gichigami.

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Tag: wisconsin

Enormocast 313: Dave Groth and Leo Hermacinski – Giving Devil’s Lake Its Due

Enormocast 297: Paul “PK” Kuenn – The Dairylander