All the Approach, None of the Climbing:

"Fun" Times On Giant Mountain

The northeast has some great climbing and the Adirondacks contain some supposedly excellent slide climbs. Isaac and I went to attempt Eagle Slide on Giant Mountain, which is rated very highly and I'm sure it is a great climb, but we never got to it. The guidebook description was a bit vague and cryptic in that details such as "at the base of the hill" and " follow the stream" did little to guide us while we crossed multiple streams and were on the side of a mountain with countless hills. I consider my navigation skills to be quite good, but those skills were put to the test today. I am pretty positive that we were originally on the right path, but underestimated the scale of the mountain, thus we turned around too early and did not stay near the stream we were supposed to. I will be back to climb it, but honestly, I'm not sure how a 4th class slide climb can be so highly rated with a mediocre approach that is in the trees 100% of the time. Next time I'll climb it and see if it is actually as good as they say.

The "herd path" leading to who knows where

Isaac near the start of the "herd path"

The map, route description, & gps did not jive

Vermont Summers

Are very rainy and hot! Granted that this summer has been fairly dry, with plenty of sunny weather, except for the damn thunderstorms which seem to occur every day. However even when it is nice if the humidity is 100% and the temperature is 92 degrees, one is not inclined to partake in active outdoor pursuits such as climbing. I have been able to get in a decent amount of climbing, mainly with Justin, whom I've been climbing with since the spring. Once again, my a well planned Presi Traverse trip was foiled by forgotten running shoes (my hiking partner forgot them, not me!). Still a few months of dry weather left before summer slips into a dreary fall. Thus far, I have climbed a Lake Dunmore, Bolton, and the wonderful Adirondacks. Soon I will be in Washington (home of big mountains, no thunderstorms, and great beer).

Isaac on his first climb of the season at Lake Dunmore

In the maw at Bolton (I try to like chimneys)

Justin rappelling from a climb at Chapel Pond, NY

Getting ready for the last pitch of a climb at Chapel Pond, NY

Tilmans Arete, Chapel Pond