Mountain Skills Climbing Guides and Gunks Rock Climbing Instruction
Gunks Rock Climbing – 845-853-5450 – www.mountainskills.biz – Guiding the Gunks and BeyondArchive for June, 2009
Gunks Kids Rock Climbing Camp 05-25-09
Zur climbing to the GT Ledge on High Exposure 5.6+
Zur and Ben on the GT Ledge getting ready for the last pitch of High Exposure 5.6+
So my fearless climbing camp students and I went for the big prize yesterday. Both Ben and Zur had wanted to climb High Exposure 5.6+ from the get go and Thursday was the day we made it happen. I slowly started to get those two acclimated to multi-pitch climbing and being more self sufficientfrom the start of the camp. Top rope belaying, lead belaying, cleaning gear, clear and correct belay commands and rappelling let us climb moderate multi-pitch routes at the Gunks all week. High Exposure is a route that you really don’t want to have any problems on so it was very important everyone was dialed on what to do and when. I did the first two pitches as always in one up to the spacious GT Ledge. When it’s wet like it has been I start way to the left of the corner to stay out of the water and to see people better. Once everyone was on the ledge we went over the need to yell loudly to each other between the two anchors. Ben and Zur crashed the last pitch. Both finally got to rappel on there own twice coming down the rappel line. We finished the day by climbing Sleepwalk 5.7, Ant’s Line 5.9 and Ent’s Line 5.10d. What a great day.
Gunks Kids Rock Climbing Camp June 23
Well I didn’t take the camera out of the bag but we did climb some great routes today. We started of climbing Horseman 5.5 to the top to do our first rappel. Once back to the ground we headed over to Jane 5.7 and Raubenheimer Special 5.7. We stayed in that area for the rest of the day climbing and having fun learning technique. Our Gunks Kids Climbing Camp will be headed further on down the cliff today to explore some more the the Gunks fine routes. hopefullt the camera comes out of the bag this time.
Gunks Kids Rock Climbing Camp June 22-26
I am taking two 15 year old boys climbing all week for our Gunks Kids Rock Climbing Camp. Yesterday we started the week at Bonticou top roping the usual routes and than climbing the Pin Line 5.5 in two pitches to the top. I went over belaying correctly, the safety check, lowering correctly, proper belay stance and top rope master point selection with both of them in the morning. These two guys are real smart and eager to learn to climb so this week will be very rewarding and fun for all of us. I am going to be climbing multi-pitch routes with these guys for the rest of the week at the Trapps and Near Trapps. I should have some good photos of the climbs we did tomorrow.
Gunks Summer Kids Rock Climbing Camps
What a great way for your kids to enjoy the summer. Mountain Skills Climbing Guides is offering summer climbing camps for kids between the ages of 11-17 years old. Five days of climbing during the week at the Gunks for the price of $490. We include the days fees for the kids in our day cost. We meet at Rock and Snow at 9:00 am to go over waivers and to get climbing gear for the week. We provide all technical rock climbing equipment for the kids. Please have the kids bring food, water and a backpack for carrying there equipment. Sneakers are great for walking from cliff to cliff while out climbing. We will be at the cliff until 4 pm each day.
We will be teaching the kids how to:
Rock climbing efficiently
Proper climbing technique
Belaying correctly
Lowering correctly
Learning safety commands
Rappelling
Tying important knots for climbing
Leave No Trace ethics for the outdoors
Weather plays a large part in what cliff we choose to climb at for the day. We would like to take the kids to a different climbing area in the Gunks each day if it works out.
Climbers receive a 10% discount from Rock and Snow if you would like to purchase any equipment.
Gunks Learn to Lead Courses with Mountain Skills Climbing Guides
My belaying the second up after mock leading a pitch
Justin mock leading and placing prtection
Saturday and Sunday Chuck Boyd and I had three clients from Boston doing a two day Learn to Lead Course. I decided to have two guides on with three clients to make sure everyone was learning as much as possible. These guys really learned a ton of information in two days. I think it really opened there eyes to the world of anchor building and leading. Chuck and I went over anchor building, belaying with a Munter hitch off the anchor, rappel back ups, gear placements and safety on Saturday. On Sunday we did mock leading and belaying the second up with simu-rappelling for a good eight hours or so. These courses are a great way to start getting some freedom. They are best done over two days to allow all the information to really sink in. With a low ratio the learning is maximized.
