BILL THOMPSONbill_thompson

For the last 30 years, Bill has lived and climbed in the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan. While at Northern Michigan University, he was the director of the Outdoor Recreation Center, leading adventure trips throughout the country and teaching a class for the outdoor recreation curriculum.

After graduating from NMU with a Masters degree in Community College Teaching/Outdoor Recreation, he began a career at Down Wind Sports, an outdoor specialty retailer based in Marquette Michigan. In the summer Bill can usually be found rock climbing at the local crag, paddling the shores of Lake Superior, or backpacking at his favorite spot in the U.P.- the McCormick Tract. A big reason that he chose to live in the U.P. is that his favorite season of the year is winter. When the north wind blows and the snow flies Bill is an avid telemark skier, but his true passion is ice climbing.

He is an author of the guide book, An Ice Climbers Guide To Munising Michigan, and the organizer of the country’s third largest gathering of ice climbers- the Michigan Ice Festival. The festival draws 400-plus ice climbers from all over the United States and Canada to the region annually to experience ice climbing above the beautiful Lake Superior.