Game On! Early season ice and mixed climbing in the Adirondacks
With Thanksgiving's mini- ice storm and clear cool weather, the winter climbing season is in effect. On Friday Emilie and I went up to Knob Lock Mountain in search of dependably cold conditions and found some good mixed climbing on Unexpected Pleasures. This morning I got out for a solo 'tour' at Chapel Pond. Since the pond isn't frozen, it takes some work and adventure just to get over to Chouinard's. Instead of the slightly committing 'Hinterstoisser traverse' at the base of the buttress, a nice frozen moss runnel to the left of Shipton's arete provides moderate passage up to the top of the buttress and an easy traverse right into DogLeg. A short rap gets you to the base of Chouinard's. Early-season is great- no crowds and lots of fresh ice. Chouinard's Gully and Dog Leg were in great shape with a three-inch thick surface layer of sticky wet ice. On the way down I met a party running laps on Crystal Ice Tower and nice-looking mixed terrain on Lames Ice Hose.
If you've got the itch to get out before the holiday rush and take advantage of good early-season mixed conditions, now's the time. Check out our private guiding page for details.
