Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides

IFMGA guide Mark Puleo poses down for the classic arete shot on the El (5.8) , Pitchoff Chimney Cliff

Once again I've slacked on uploading new photos and now I've got a pile of them to post. We had another great sunny, colorful and occasionally cool fall. Thanks to all who joined us for rock climbing this past season. We're still guiding through the month down in the Gunks (thru our friends at Alpine Endeavors) and if rock climbing in the desert sounds like a great way to spend early November, give us a call asap - there's still space available on Alpine Endeavor's trip to Red Rocks (outside of Vegas) in early November, and we'll be there working and available thru AE. If you like the idea of cruising long rock routes in the desert- come join us!

Mark Puleo follows the splitter dihedral on Aerie (5.10b), Moss Cliff

Frank crusin' the classic slab/face on Catharis (5.6), Poke-O-Moonshine Carolyn pulls the last piece on The Ladder, Poke-O-Moonshine. Climber starting up Hard Times (5.9), Moss Cliff

Gray topping out almost a thousand feet up on Wallface Mountain's Diagonal Route (III 5.8), on a recent one-day climb.

The word is out on Adirondack Rock! Also check out the latest edition (Oct. issue) of Rock & Ice for an updated article on the action in the Park and the new guidebook feeding the frenzy.

While surprisingly few people really know about the wealth of great and uncrowded climbing in the Adirondack Park, even fewer know about the fabled Wallface Mountain- NY's biggest, baddest wilderness cliff and our favorite local backcountry climbing destination.

Wallface is close to a thousand feet high and almost a half-mile in width, with a five mile approach up rocky trails, streambeds and blocky talus slopes through Indian Pass, deep in the High Peaks Wilderness. There are a variety of routes, ranging from easy 5th class alpine-style scrambles to modern free climbing testpieces- but the most popular objective, and the one we guide most often, is the classic Diagonal (III 5.8)- with 4-5 pitches of easy 5th class alpine-style climbing up broken terrain and slabs leading to two final 5.8 crack system pitches that top out high on the cliff's southernmost buttress, almost a thousand feet up.

Wallface is a premier objective for experienced multi-pitch and alpine climbers, and Cloudsplitter Guides have the traditional skills, alpine training, AMGA rock certification and years of experience to make the most of our guests' Wallface experience. Cloudsplitter guides single-day (w/ an alpine start) and multi-day (w/ backcountry camp) climbs on Wallface, year-round, by reservation, with late August, September and October being the favorite time. Contact Jesse for more information.

Want to see more about Wallface? Check out the slideshow below and better yet, check out Cloudsplitter's Wallface video on Youtube.com

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...