Peak o' the Season- late summer rock and alpine climbing
A personal day out with fellow guide Ryan, racing the weather on Shuksan's Fisher Chimeys, North Cascades National Park, WA. Mt. Baker in the background.
Domenic tops out on Hesitation (II 5.8), Washbowl Cliff, Adirondack Park, NY.
It's almost September again. The days are getting shorter, the nights are cooler, the air is crisper. I'm looking forward to fall and the best rock climbing of the season.
What have we been up to?
Jeff and Connor enjoying the view while Ryan leads the super classic Sharkfin arete in North Cascade's famed Boston Basin.
At the end of July and early August, we joined forces with Marty and Ryan from Alpine Endeavors in the Gunks, for a week of alpine climbing on Forbidden, Sahale, Sharkfin and Shuksan in the North Cascades National Park, and a Mt. Rainier Summit Climb the following week. I was fortunate to work with a father/son team (there were actually two with us) for the entire trip, and Richard, Alex and I had an enjoyable, memorable, challenging and successful trip. These guys packed a lot of great alpine mountaineering experience into a two-week vacation- and at the same time we had enough down time to dry out when it rained, a little rest & recovery, and another espresso...
Hard work bit worth it! Richard and Alex enjoying walk down and out from High Camp.
The view up from Camp Sherman/Emmons Flats (high camp).
I'm always motivated after a trip and enjoy returning home to my favorite crags. Despite some wet weather (that has finally drastically improved) it's been a great August- with the usual summer mix of activities: An absolutely beautiful summer day up on Hurricane Crag with Tom and Robin, reminiscing about our favorite alpine mountaineering trips along the way. A nice summer day with Domenic, coaching him on the path to leading (he felt out the sharp end of the rope a little on a more committing traverse), a fast & efficient backcountry slide climb with Robert (also recently returned from the North Cascades!) and a day out with the Bray family- new to the sport but loving every minute of it!
On tap for fall: Join us here for peak foliage through Columbus Day Weekend. From Oct. 15-31 you can join us in the Gunks through Alpine Endeavors. Really want to go big before the rock season ends? Join us (also by private arrangement with Alpine Endeavors) in Red Rocks Canyon (Vegas, baby!) from Nov. 3- 16...
