Farm Silos Attract Ice Climbers

Farm Silos Attract Ice Climbers AG WORLD 31-2-22 Silo ice climbing might inspire farmers to look at their empty silos in a new way. Craig Schroeder iced a silo five years ago and rekindled a passion for ice climbing from earlier adventures. He pulled out his old climbing gear, updated his ice axe, and headed to the top of his 60-foot silo. The Tipton, Iowa, farmer raises crops and 3,400 hogs in his farrow-to-finish operation, and had always thought silos could be climbed. He got the advice he needed from Don Briggs, an instructor at the University of Northern Iowa. To prepare students for careers in physical education, leisure services and recreation, his curriculum includes canoeing, backpacking and rock climbing. Seven years ago, during his free time, Briggs enjoyed helping his farming friend, Jim Budlong. "I was chisel plowing, which is a job you can't mess up," Briggs laughs. As he drove back and forth, looking at the same scenery over and over, he focused on Budlong's four silos. He realized he'd found new heights to climb - something there's a shortage of in Iowa. Budlong agreed to experiment and the two men rigged up chain, safety rope and ordinary garden hose on the north side of the silos. "Lo and behold, it worked," Briggs says. The silos iced over, and he had something to climb. The university instructor climbs whenever he can. He also teaches silo-climbing to his students and climbs with out-of-state visitors. Through the winter Briggs continually adds more ice to his 55 to 70-ft. silos. "It gives you a different climb each time," he says. Schroeder is always awed by the different formations after an evening of running water. "The next morning is just like Christmas," he says. "It's exciting to see what formed overnight." Schroeder and his 12-year-old son Collin enjoy climbing often. Temperatures between 20 and 25 are most ideal, Schroeder says, but he's climbed at lower temperatures, too. "We've even climbed at night with big spotlights," Schroeder laughs. "It's good camaraderie, and it's a good place to train for natural waterfall formed ice." He and Briggs have become good friends, and both have met many other ice climbers. Briggs says he knows of four to five farms with silos iced for climbing. Because of liability issues, Briggs says silo climbing may be difficult to run as a business. However, he notes that total setup costs are minimal. • The silo should be in good condition and made of concrete staves. Most are empty, but ones with old forage that won't be used work even better because the ice doesn't thaw as quickly. • The anchor for the safety rope includes two pieces of logging chain attached with screw links around the top two bands of the silo. • Silos are iced by running water through a garden hose attached to a pipe with a series of showerheads temporarily secured horizontally next to the top of the silo. When the water is turned off the hose is drained and taken down. • Water is only run at temperatures of 26 degrees or less. It adheres and ices quickly on the silo. Briggs runs the water for three days to get the initial ice to build up. After that, running water overnight is enough to rebuild the ice. • Be careful around the silos in the spring when the ice thaws, Schroeder says. Huge columns of ice fall away from the silo. • For detailed information and a little silo history, Don Briggs has written a book, "Silo Ice Climbing, Ice Climbing in the Midwest." He sells it for $15. Contact: Don Briggs, University of Northern Iowa (ph 319 277-6426; donald.briggs @uni.edu).

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