Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides

Jacob styling the El's clean handcracks.

Peak foliage is just around the corner...and just in time for several weeks of stellar weather. It just confirms what I've learned over the last 15 years- September is THE peak month for rock climbing in the Adirondacks. The colors are spectacular and the rock is dry and crisp, and (especially midweek) we often have the place to ourselves.

Jacob enjoying classic clean cracks.

While it has been nice to post pics and stories from this summer's alpine climbing trips, I like to remind people that climbing with Cloudsplitter is not always about going big or pushing your limits. We climb with everyone, at all levels of aspiration and ability, and our approach is always the same: we'll discuss where you're at (from novice to expert) and what your personal goals are- and begin our progression from there. In fact, we're climbing quite a bit this month with couples that are new to climbing and simply up here on vacation, looking for a fun and exciting new outdoor activity to enjoy in the Adirondacks. A half-day of climbing is a great way to have fun outside and see what rock climbing is all about, while still leaving plenty of time for rest and relaxation in the afternoon.

On another note:

Lifelong friends and climbing partners, headin' up!

Our friends John and Jacob were once again up with their families vacationing for a few weeks at the end of August. Both have been bitten by the climbing bug-big time, so over the course of the few weeks they were here, John and I scheduled a bunch of days of climbing (in-between the obligatory family days and rest days.) John has been diligently working on his climbing and lead skills all summer in the Gunks. A few weeks up here gave us the chance to both tick off some 'trophy climbs,' perfect our crack techniques, and then ultimately take his lead climbing to a whole new level on multi-pitch routes. By the end of their trip, John and I were swinging leads on Chapel Pond's multi-pitch classics and Jacob played the solid partner- giving us confident belays, efficiently cleaning the protection and anchors, and providing endless comic relief with quotes from our favorite movies.

John stepping confidently up to the plate on his first multi-pitch lead climb.

Apparently- much like sexy teenage vampires- John's image is impossible to capture on camera (or in a mirror) so it was hard to get a good image of him doing a great job out on the sharp end of his first, real multi-pitch leads- but for the record, and since he'll never admit to it himself- he climbed confidently and competently on lead and his studious application all season really paid off. And Jacob revealed his true natural athleticism, making the steeper cracks look easy and carrying us all along with his contagious enthusiasm. I particularly enjoyed watching two lifelong friends become a solid team of climbing partners, taking their friendship to whole new level.

Thanks for climbing with us again guys. See you in the Gunks in October and November!

Chapel Pond Slab's Empress route- 700' of great rock and great views.

After confidently cruising the final runout friction, John brings Jacob up with a quick hip-belay.

 UPDATE 9/15/09

CONGRATULATIONS TO EMILIE- She passed the AMGA Certified Rock Instructor Exam in NH with flying colors!!!!