6-11-09 elite military unit training!

Got to work with an elite military unit who were taking a 8 day intensive climbing course from us! These guys were fit, motivated, and out-going. The constant semi-positive “heckling” that occurred through-out the day really brought me back to my previous time in the service. I didn’t get too many photos, since getting 9 people up Fun House and Upper Refuse and then rapping all the way back down often takes two hands!

 

Half-way up the cliff some of us regroup on the large tree ledge...
Half-way up the cliff some of us regroup on the large tree ledge...

 

Got to look tough when working with these guys...
Got to look tough when working with these guys...
Good spirits 100 feet from the top...
Good spirits 100 feet from the top...

 

Use the handhold...
Use the handhold...
too find the foot holds!
to find the foot holds!

 

Two 200 foot long rappels got us back to the ground...
Two 200 foot long rappels got us back to the ground...

I would like to thank all nine of you for climbing with us but especially for your service! Godspeed with your upcoming deployments, climb safe, stay safe, and get back stateside when the mission is complete. Semper Fi.

6-10-09 Intro to Multi-Pitch Rock Climbing

I had the great pleasure of guiding Danielle and Danielle on Cathedral Ledge today. Two very out going young women who both work for EMS stores in Massachusetts, but had only met a month prior. The way these two got along made me think they were lifelong friends, and I really enjoyed introducing them to the aspects of multi-pitch rock climbing while we scaled Upper Refuse on Cathedral Ledge.

 

On the hike to the climb we got this view of nearby Whitehorse Ledge
On the hike to the climb we got this view of nearby Whitehorse Ledge

 

We started with a refresher on rappelling, and rapped down the Barber Wall
We started with a refresher on rappelling, and rapped down the Barber Wall

 

 

The view from Airation Buttress after lunch
The view from Airation Buttress after lunch

Thank you both for a great day, hope to see you on the cliffs soon!

4-24-09 Mount Washington Ascent

Despite rock climbing last week the Mountaineering Season is not over! I had the great pleasure of guiding David and his 9 year old son Griffin up Mt. Washington today. Griffin is the youngest person I have seen climb Mt. Washington in these winter conditions and he did an incredible job! The Winter Lion’s Head route was in very rough condition and made for some challenging climbing. Slush on top of water ice with some steep wet rock. We prevailed though, and were rewarded with calm winds above tree-line and some fantastic glissading conditions. Be sure to enable High-Def on the top right of the video. Hope you enjoy the slideshow;

4-18-09 Rock Climbing on Cathedral Ledge

For my 1st guiding day of 2009’s rock season I was happy to meet Nat and his two sons Alex and Thomas for a “First Ascent” rock climbing program.

 

Gearing up on the Cathedral Ledge Auto Road
Gearing up on the Cathedral Ledge Auto Road

It’s about a 10 minute hike up to where we would start some basic rock climbing:

 

Thomas warming up for the climbing ahead...
Thomas warming up for the climbing ahead...
Nat checking how high up he is getting...
Nat checking how high up he is getting...
Alex nicely composed...
Alex nicely composed...
Thomas getting creative with his knees...
Thomas getting creative with his knees...
Belay Squad looking good...
Belay Squad looking good...
Nat with Mount Washington Valley in the background...
Nat with Mount Washington Valley in the background...
Thomas on his first rappel...
Thomas on his first rappel...
Nat on rappel...
Nat on rappel...

Thank you guys for a great day out… the rain held out, the climbing was good… and the Oreo’s delicious. Hope to see you back here for some more!