Fellow Mount Washington Observatory supporter and friend Ed O’Malley joined me for a half day of climbing on Cathedral Ledge this past Friday. Rain and other work commitments have kept me inside for the last few weeks so I was very glad to get out and enjoy the day.
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Speaking of the Mount Washington Observatory their annual fundraiser is coming up very soon, and I am very behind in my fundraising efforts. Please take a moment to visit my fundraising site and consider helping me help such a great organization!
Yesterday at Cannon Mountain I attended an annual training for various search & rescue groups in NH, organized by NH Fish & Game. Groups in attendance were Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue (AVSAR), Mount Washington Observatory (MWO), Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), New England K-9 Search and Rescue, Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team (UVWRT), The Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team (PVSART), and Mountain Rescue Service (MRS), of which I am a member.
After some indoor GPS review Fish & Game gave us a grid to search for a missing young girl (training exercise). Scattered within the search area were about 10 clues to try and find.We conducted a line search and located many of the clues left for us to find. Great review of GPS and line searching procedures.Kurt and Joe demonstrated some swift water crossing techniques nearby.Frank demonstrated "Twin Tension Lowering Technique" for use in high angle rescue (MRS Specialty)Learning how to find and follow a persons tracks in the wilderness was certainly the most interesting thing I learned about...The instructor demonstrated how to measure foot size, gait, stride, saddle, and other observations to make sure you are following the right set of tracks.Then in pairs we were assigned a track to locate and follow. This was some very cool training!We debriefed and took away some last minute tips.
Mountain Rescue Service is ‘on call’ 24 hours per day, all seasons, with volunteers being mobilized for a full range of incidents: complicated multi-day and nighttime searches in the depth of winter throughout the White Mountain National Forest; technical rope rescues on the region’s many rock climbing cliffs; swift water rescue assistance; and lift evacuations at area ski resorts. Keeping 40+ primary team members prepared requires not only constant training, but also vigilant equipment monitoring and annual investment to ensure team and patient safety.
This volunteer technical rescue service depends on donations to operate. Donations are allocated for the purchase of search and rescue equipment (ropes, sleds, radios etc) and technical training that enables the MRS team to be mobilized as needed.
Find out more about Mountain Rescue Service and how to donate here: http://www.nhmrs.org
Just a quick post to get some photos up of a new route above Wanderlust at Humprhey’s, and a more obscure start to an obscure route. Look for more info at NEClimbs.com.
After a 4 year hiatus I finally returned to Red Rocks, Nevada for another great week of climbing. This time I opted not to camp and instead fell in with a group of Connecticut AMC Mountaineers who had rented a large house in Summerlin. It was nice not to fly with the additional luggage of camping gear, especially with the high rates airlines are charging for excessive luggage these days!
Red Rocks is the place in the US for long moderate multi-pitch traditional routes. They also have epic sport climbing if that is your thing. We got in 3 great multi-pitch trad routes, two which I had not previously done, a relatively fast ascent of the Grade IV stellar climb Solar Slab, and a nice relaxing day clipping bolts in Calico Basin.
Next year I may plan to do a bit of guiding out there, so if you’re interested check back next February/March when I’ll have more details.
Well it took until April 22nd for me to finally get out on the rock, less than a week before my Red Rocks trip. Nick, one of the store guides at the North Conway EMS met me at 8am for some AM climbing at Humprhey’s Ledge. We got in a few good routes and while the winter has left my feet a bit more used to skinning and skiing than edging and smearing I’m sure I’ll come around.
Mike Lackman, one of our CT guides and a recent AIARE Level 1 student was in town for a few days of fun, and we decided a trip up into GoS would be a fun day off.
A bluebird day, good snow, and a handful of Milton Academy students combined to make an interesting day on Mount Washington. We covered the basics of uphill travel in Randonee (AT) and Tele ski gear then enjoyed some turns on the way back down (some more than others ;))
Philipe and Matt joined Joe, Benny, and I yesterday for an attempt on Mount Washington. Deep snow had fallen the day before and I got the pleasure of breaking the trail from the base of the steeps all the way to Split Rock. Visibility was about 10 feet on the summit cone, and we decided that given the winds and visibility that Split Rock was an excellent high point for the day. Another great day in the mountains!
Mother Nature decided to play an April’s Fool joke on us all and rerouted a Nor’ Easter right at us. The winter conditions were perfect for Joe and Benny who came up for a couple day’s of mountaineering instruction. We spent the first day at the North End of Cathedral.
Great day out on the mountain yesterday with Camilla and Martin. No one else on the Lion’s Head Trail and great views up to Lion’s Head. We didn’t summit, but we had a blast. Got to teach the “arm wrap” rappel on the way back down too! Don’t get to use that skill to often!
