Mountain Skills Climbing Guides and Gunks Rock Climbing Instruction
Gunks Rock Climbing – 845-853-5450 – www.mountainskills.biz – Guiding the Gunks and BeyondArchive for January, 2009
www.mountainskills.biz website revamped 01-28-09
Doug and his two small time bombs waiting to explode
Just let everyone know the www.mountainskills.biz website has seen some new changes in the past few days. Our guides bios have been added to the main site, the directions page has been changed, and we have added all the different excursions we offer. This main website will be evolving frequently now to stay up to date with things we are doing, places we are going, and people we meet along the way. Hope everyone enjoys it
Kaaterskill Falls/ DEC Rescue Training 01-22/23-09
Bob Ellsinger lowering in the litter while DEC Ranger Rob Meccus watches
Lowering the litter into Bridal Veil Falls, Platte Clove
John Mackey starting pitch 1 of Gottlieb's Roof WI 4+
John Mackey, Tom Andrews, and I climbed the majority of Kaaterskill Falls on Wednesday. I got the first pitch of Kaaterskill WI 3+and John wanted the rest. He has been dreaming of climbing this gem for years and Wednesday was as good as any to tackle it. In reality he climbed the first pitch of Gottlieb’s Roof WI 4+which is no easy task in itself. The climbing was pretty stiff for the grade but John climbed it like a champ. The last pitch of Kaaterskill Falls was still fairly thin in the tube so we all decided to save it for another day. Great job John. Thursday took us to Platte Clove for a rescue training with the DEC. Brendan Mealia, Ralph Schimmenti, John Mackey, and I all helped in this years winter training above Bridal Veil Falls. The weather cooperated with temps in the 20’s and partly sunny skies. We do these trainings with the DEC and other organizations in the area to prepare everyone in the event of a emergency. They are extremely helpful in getting people who are first on the scene to initiate the rescue process. Great job by the DEC and other organizations involved.
John Mackey bridging the crux on Gottlieb's Roof WI 4+
Hillyer Ravine, Moores Gully, Asbestos 1-19-09
Doug Ferguson on Kaaterskill Falls WI 3+
Gert on Hillyer Ravine pitch 1 WI 3
Pretty much starting last Wednesday we climbed all over the Catskills. On Friday we started with the Kaaterskill waterfalls and Asbestos Wall. The upper falls still need some time but the lower was closed up good. The two climbs on the way in are climbable with the first having better variations. We soloed up the falls starting just after the bridge to check out the creek bed. It is advisable to walk up to the falls on the path and not the creek. Saturday we climbed Moores Bridge Gully and Hillyer Ravine. Hillyer was a total blast. Deep blue ice on both of the pitches and lines from WI 3 to WI 4+could be had. I would have to imagine the trail is still visible even after the extra 6 inches of snow we received the other day. Don’t wait to long now is the time to get out and climb some ice.
Platte Clove Waterfalls 01-14-09
- Doug Ferguson leading up the lines below Japanese Falls
We hit up Japanese, Bridal Veil, and Plattekill waterfalls on Wednesday. All the falls are climbable with many different variations to be had. Each fall was still open in the middle but are pretty safe. We also climbed some routes further down past Japanese Falls. I think you could climb three of four different lines in the lower area. We only climbed one pitch but say multi-pitch opportunities if you wanted. These routes are in the WI 3+ to 2+ range.
Devil’s Kitchen, Catskills 1-09-09
Wes Converse getting ready for some mixed action Devils Kitchen, Catskills
Went back into the Devil’s Kitchen on Friday. Things have gotten bigger since I was there on the 4th. Wes lead the Smear WI 4+ and I did the first corner WI 3+/4. Brendan and I also dipped around the corner and climbed the right side of Bridal Vail Falls. The middle of the route is open with a lot of water running though it. The right side climbed at WI 2 with interesting features being created from the spray. The creeks have gotten better to walk on since the 4th as well. We are going to get a nice winter storm tonight with 5-10 inches expected. With the cold temps and the snow January is shaping up to be really good.
