Shelburne Pillars Ice Climbing

One Sunday, Isaac and I headed to Shelburne Pillars, a hidden climbing area in South Burlington.  To access it you park in the parking lot of a shopping mall.  The climbing area is located along the La Platte River, only about a 10 minute walk from the car.  Totally hidden from roads, houses, etc., this area lies within Nature Conservancy Land.  First off I did a quick briefing on rappelling and had Isaac do his first rappel ever.  Then we got to climbing.  The climbs are short (maybe 40 feet tall at the most, but they are all steep WI4-WI5, with some mixed options).  A great place for toproping.  A fun day out once again.  

Me bouldering around

Isaac nearing the top of a deceptively steep climb

Bristol Cliffs Ice Climbing

The day before I had guided a beginner ice climbing course for Middlebury College and decided to take my cousin up to do some local ice.  Great day out and no one there.  The ice was as fat as I have ever seen at Bristol.  The ice was thick and took great tool sticks (though some of the screw placements were less than ideal due to the wetness of the ice)  I led up the right side of the central flow (WI2+).    Fun times.

Me climbing up to set a directional

On rappel off of a V-thread

I look stern, but I'm actually having a great time

Isaac loving the ice

Mt. Abe Winter Ascent

Last weekend Isaac (my cousin-in-law) and myself hiked Mt. Abe.  Normally I take hike Mt. Abe by approaching up the Gap Road (~1mi) to the Long Trail TH and then hike up the ridge to the summit (~4.something miles).  This time, I decided to take an alternate route.  We hiked up the Battell Trail, which is only 2.9 miles to the summit, instead of over 5.  This way also halved my previous RT time.  We made it to the summit in about an hour and 45 and took about 50 minutes going back down (plus 10 min on the summit) for a total of 2:45 car to car.  It was cold on the summit, but a great day.  

Northeast Ice Adventure #2

Nate flew out to VT for another go at some NE ice.  Conditions were favorable for the most part (some snow storms made driving a bit heinous and there was one day of climbing in a blizzard).  Overall though a really good trip; and we got the Black Dike.  Good times.

Nate leading the crux of the Black Dike

Bristol Cliffs. Though it looks good, the ice was very thin in spots.  My picks were dull after this day.

Waiting in line.  We waited 2 hours for a party to bail, before we started up the Dike

The Black Dike.  The two climbers in the picture were the ones we were waiting for.  There are on the first pitch.