Mountain Skills Climbing Guides and Gunks Rock Climbing Instruction
Gunks Rock Climbing – 845-853-5450 – www.mountainskills.biz – Guiding the Gunks and BeyondArchive for April, 2009
Look out folks here comes summer/Gunks PCGI Lead Guide Course
Kellie following Bunny 5.4 at the Trapps PCGI Lead Guide Course
Doug Ferguson coiling the rope before short pitch two clients/PCGI Lead Guides Course
Ralph and Nick going over self rescue/PCGI Lead Guide Course
Man, this past weekend was absolutely beautiful in the Gunk’s. Temps in the 80’s all weekend and not a cloud in the sky. The leaves on the trees and flowers are really starting to pop with the warm temps. It’s pretty amazing to sit on top of the cliff line right now and watch it all unfold. Unfortunately the black flys are happy to be out as well. Saturday we had Outdoor Bound group out rock climbing, along with a bunch of single clients out with guides at the big cliff the Trapps. With busy weekends like this one I like to take our group trips to quiet locations so people can enjoy the outdoors. Our normal, smaller size trips climb at the Near Trapps or the Trapps. Sunday and Monday Ralph Schimmenti and I started the PCGI Lead Guide Course taught by Nick Farley who also works with Mountain Skills Climbing Guides. This course is seven days in length including the Rescue Assessment and Lead Guide Assessment. I have been taking AMGA Courses since 2002and was curious about the PCGI and what the curriculum was. Nick is a great skills teacher. He really knows his information in self rescue and guide techniques. It is a absolute pleasure to be working with him.
Gunks rock climbing 04-17-09 and NY/NJ Trail Conference trail building
Trail building at Wonder Lake, N.Y.
What a weekend we had at the Gunks. The weather was amazing all weekend. Friday we climbed down by Simple Suff 5.10a/b, the first pitch of Falled on Account of Strain 5.9, Wasp 5.9, and Tangled up in Blue 5.8. I had never climbed Tangled up in Blue 5.8, and thought it was pretty good for not getting many stars. Saturday Mark Folsom took three people to the Peterskill for a Top Rope Anchor Building Course. This is a great course for people breaking in to climbing outside. It really givesyou a good foundation for becoming a more independent climber. I did trail work for the NY/NJ Trail Conference at Wonder Lake. I had a ton of fun building rock steps and side hilling for the day. Sunday took us all back up to the Trapps for some climbing on Silhouette5.7+, Updraft 5.5, and Last Will Be First 5.6. All three of these climbs are in the same area and offer a wide variety of climbing for the Gunks.
Guided Group Rock Climbing at the Gunks and Peterskill
Kling-on Crack 5.7 at the Peterskill Enterprise Wall
Hanna pulling the crux move on Kling-On Crack 5.7 Peterskill
Lisa climbing at the Enterprise Wall Peterskill
Friday went off without a hitch at the Gunks. The rain held off until later in the afternoon, so we got our full day in. I was climbing with a couple from New Jersey and Brendan had a client out climbing from the New York City. If you have never been climbing at the Gunks and live in New Jersey or New York City it only takes a hour and a half to get to New Paltz. Sunday we took a group from New York City out rock climbing at the Peterskill located in Minnewaska State Park Preserve. The Peterskill is a ideal climbing area for larger size groups. The approach to the climbing area is easy, they have bathroom facilities, and the woods with the boulders lying around really adds to the appeal of the area. If you have a group or a family with kids the Peterskill is a great location for teaching people rock climbing. Call us anytime at 845-853-5450 or email info@mountainskills
Gunks Arrow Wall
Doug Ferguson enjoying the weather on Limelight 5.7
My friend Pete and I climbed the Arrow Wall on Thursday. It was clear as a bell and warm. T-shirt weather. What a difference a day makes. On Wednesday it snowed while I climbed Son of Easy O 5.8, City Lights 5.8, and Frogs Head 5.6. It had been a while since I climbed at the Arrow Wall and Pete had never really climbed anything in that area before. Pete climbed Limelight 5.7 and I climbed Three Doves 5.8+ before going back to the ground. We also climbed Proctor-Scope 5.9+ and top roped Feast of Fool’s 5.10b off of the chain anchors to finish the day. I honestly think the Gunks is the Disneyland of rock climbing areas. Our own Magic Kingdom in New York. If you would like to climb all of the classic routes on the Arrow Wall at the Gunks give us a call at 845-853-5450 or email info@mountainskills.biz to set up your perfect adventure.
Great Gunks Rock Climbing Instruction Weekend
College kids having good ole college fun
Doug and Ralph racking up in the morning
We had a great weekend guiding at the Gunks. Saturday and Sunday we had a group climbing with us from a in state college and also a two day Learn To Lead Course taught by Wes Converse. We also had a Top Rope Anchor Building Course on Sunday taught by Mark Folsom. The weather Saturday was chilly and windy but Sunday’s weather made up for it big time. The cliff on Sunday was packed with folks out climbing and enjoying the weather. Spring fever is in the air at the Gunks for sure. Please contact Mountain Skills Climbing Guides at 845-853-5450 or email us at info@mountainskills.biz to book a trip with us. We love to climb and to show others the wonderful area we live in.
