A few months ago, I felt like I was at the top of my climbing game. I on-sighted my first 5.12 trad lead, and had steadily been ticking off long difficult climbs in Washington, Oregon, and Utah. Reaching this level of fitness took years of practice and required overcoming some long-standing mental barriers.

I don't camp at the Devil's Lake often, and when I do it is often last-minute and I can't get a reservation at any of the State Park campgrounds because they fill up so often, especially on the weekends. While out West it's easy to find a quiet piece of public land and sleep in your truck, everything is private property around Devil's Lake, so you have to find a private campground.

Every week during the climbing season, I get a call or email from someone wondering if there are sport climbing routes at Devil’s Lake. Though I love helping folks answer their questions, I am usually disappointing the the inquiring party because they really want to go sport climbing outside.

Natural Bridge State Park is a near neighbor to Devil's Lake, about 30 minutes west via SR 12 and Highway C, between Leland and Denzer. Established in 1973, Natural Bridge State Park is a 530-acre hardwood forest protecting a geologic anomaly: a huge, sandstone "bridge" spared by the last glacier.

Next Sunday, June 2nd, is State Parks Open House Day, which means all state park vehicle admission sticker fees and all state trail pass fees on all department owned properties are waived!

The Wisconsin DNR started a major campsite update project this winter at Devil's Lake and Peninsula State Parks, adding electricity to sites in the Quartzite, Northern Lights, and Ice Age campgrounds.

While most of our trips or classes do not require previous knowledge of knots, climbing, or anything technical, some folks like to show up knowing a thing or two about this stuff. Knot knowledge is particularly useful...

If you were late to the game this year and missed out on Devils Lake State Park camping reservations, you have a second chance to score great sites in the Quartzite Campground tomorrow.

I love the way climbing progresses you through a series of skill levels, each one building upon the last. Jeremy and Shannon took an Anchors II course with me in the September, and after a a fall filled with climbing weekends, they were back this spring for a Lead Climbing course.

The first half of November is a golden period for the climbing season at Devil's Lake. Crowds have thinned dramatically, the low winter sun shines generously through the bare trees, the yellowjackets are sleeping again, and there is a wonderful, quiet stillness in the air.