In Like a Lion

It has been a wet and wild introduction into spring out here in Vermont. Floods have impacted nearly every corner of the state, rising the water of Lake Champlain to the highest ever (3 feet above flood stage!). Summer vacation is fast approaching, but there is much to do. Krista and I are preparing to build our home. We have an exemplar design and are hoping to get the foundation completed this summer. I was recently accepted into UVM's graduate program (MEd) in Educational Leadership; in a couple of years I will be certified as a school administrator. Eammon is growing up so fast. He is already eating solid foods and before we know it he'll be moving all about. I've been trying to stay active here in Lincoln. The other day I boated down a section of the New Haven right across the street from our apartment. Looking forward to the summer and some nice weather.

The exemplar for our house design

Taking Eammon for a run in his new jogger

Eammon all dressed up for his christening

Eammon eating his first solid food (avocado)

Kayaking on the upper New Haven River

Changes

These pictures are not in order.

Some quality time with my son :)

"Helping" dad grade exams

Sporting one of the many awesome hats Eammon received as gifts

Reading Eammon a book (On the Night You Were Born)

Eammon being adorable as usual

Drinking imaginary chamapagne

Milk Drunk

Showing off our Christmas presents from Uncle Nate

Eammon is very excited to leave the hospital

Eammon's first hair wash

The bouldering cave (short, but it works!)

The new car

The Gunks

(Need I Say More?)

Back in November, I drove down to New Paltz, NY (about four hours away) to climb at the world famous Gunks. Needless to say, this place is not overrated and is amazing. The temperature was near perfect and the crowds were minimal. I was fortunate enough to be climbing with someone intimately familiar with the crag, so I was able to climb some classic lines. For those not familiar with the Gunks, this place offers some of the best easy/moderate lines anywhere. A 5.3 here will be near vertical and host several roofs; a 5.6 could be overhanging. The caveat of course is that this is the land of jugs. All my expectations were exceeded on the two climbs that we did. The first was Beginners Delight, three pitches of 5.3 and the second was Minty, which offered two pitches of 5.5. I will be back this spring!

Part of the first pitch of Minty; the route climbs just right of the ridge line through steepness

Joe leading the second pitch of Minty; one of the most fun pitches I have ever climbed

Me leading the third pitch of Beginners Delight; 200ft of air beneath my feet

Joe leading the 2nd pitch of Beginners Delight; he is heading for the roofs in the middle

Pre-Season Dry Tooling

Back before winter set in, Justin and I headed to Lake Dunmore for some practice drytooling. This small crag offers some low angle dry tool options, that makes for a fun afternoon.

Dulling my tools and crampons

Justin getting his first taste of drytooling

Stashing the tools to focus on my footwork