Ice Climbing --- 12/29/2011 - 1/3/2012 --- Adirondacks
12/29
Emily and I meet on the way to the Dacks, and enjoy a traditional meal at Moe's... where we see what happens when you mate a Nintendo with a soda machine. We arrive at Tammy's cabin around 10:30pm, where we catch the end of Underworld Evolution.
12/30
Off to climb some ice. We head to Lions on the Beach in Chapel Pond Canyon. Tammy and I tag team the first lead to set some ropes. After Tammy cleans the route and is setting a second anchor, Bruce takes an unlucky step at the base of the cliff. He slips in just the way necessary to blow out his knee. Badly. We tend to Bruce while Tammy cleans the ropes. Luckily, we are not far from the road. With the help of a bunch of other climbers, we are able to get Bruce to the campground. I can get my Subaru right down to the shore of Chapel Pond. Bruce lays in the back on 3" of memory foam for the drive to the clinic in Lake Placid. Bruce ends up in the same room where Tammy was brought last year after twisting her ankle. They are going to get a brass plaque on the door.
After finishing ambulance duty, Emily and I head to Lake Placid. And by that, I mean the interesting parts of Lake Placid. Though -- as a nurse helpfully points out -- we are technically visiting Lake Placid while in the emergency room. We walk up and down the main avenue, watch dog sleds circle Mirror Lake, and eat a raspberry and mascarpone carp... crepe... with extra whipped cream. And hot chocolate.
Bruce and Tammy are already back at the cabin when we return. Bruce's x-rays were negative, but he is still in a brace and heavily dependent on crutches. We eat stir fry and pecan pie while watching Contagion.
12/31
Emily, Tammy and I head to Chiller Pillar. We set a toprope which covers both sides of the giant icicle, and we take turns pumping out on the steep ice. Returning to the cabin we watch Deja Vu just so Tammy can see Denzel Washington with his shirt off. Then we wash up and head to the Rowland's house for a New Year's Eve party. Lots of food, lots of fun, lots of Daves. Emily and I plan to go ice skating and with Sarah's help, we head to the Olympic 400 Meter Oval. We skate and drink hot chocolate until midnight. Then skate a bit more. Emily even gets quoted in the newspaper!
1/1
Waffles! Oh, and some ice climbing too. Emily, Tammy and I head to Pitchoff Right. It is really warm and the sun is blasting us. We don't trust the slushy ice to take screws, so I walk to the top and set a toprope. I stay at the top to take some pictures, then come down to climb. Sun's out, so... yeah... guns out... I'll admit it was a bit silly, but I really wanted the photos. Which I suppose makes me vain. Shut up. Quit judging me.
Returning to the cabin, we watch Big Fish. How have I never heard of this movie? Everyone else has seen it before. I love it! "The surprise hit of the ice climbing trip! Two thumbs up!"
1/2
Tammy and Bruce depart for Ithaca. Emily and I laze around the cabin until the afternoon. We head to The Mountaineer to window shop, then to Lake Placid which is the only place we get decent cell reception. As a small storm begins to make the driving treacherous, we head back to the cabin for dinner and crosswords and a showing of The Truth About Cats And Dogs.
1/3
Waffles! Then homeward bound. Good thing we got out when we did. It will reach -15F in Keene Valley tonight!
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Leading Lions on the Beach. Chapel Pond Canyon -- 12/30/2011 |
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Always claim you were going for an artistic effect when you miss the focus. Chapel Pond Canyon -- 12/30/2011 |
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Tammy cleaning Lions on the Beach. Chapel Pond Canyon -- 12/30/2011 |
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Tammy cleaning Lions on the Beach. Chapel Pond Canyon -- 12/30/2011 |
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Bruce getting ready to head to the hospital. Chapel Pond Canyon -- 12/30/2011 |
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Getting ready at the base of Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Simulrapping after setting the toprope. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Simulrapping after setting the toprope. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Simulrapping after setting the toprope. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Simulrapping after setting the toprope. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily ready to climb. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily ready to climb. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily ready to climb. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily ready to climb. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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I'm belaying Tammy on Chiller Pillar. There was a lot of helmet swapping going on so that the climber would always have a face shield. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Me climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Me climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Me climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Me climbing Chiller Pillar. That's the brand new Lowe Alpine softshell I got for $17 at the COE gear sale! Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Me climbing Chiller Pillar. Giving Tammy's Reactors a try. Nice for leading and shaking out, but I still think my Grivel Light Machines swing better than any other tool I've ever used. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Me climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing in her Sabertooth crampons, Tammy's old boots, and the gaiters she got at the COE gear sale a few years ago. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Emily climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Chiller Pillar. Chiller Pillar -- 12/31/2011 |
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Ice Skating for New Year's Eve. Lake Placid -- 12/31/2011 |
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Ice Skating for New Year's Eve. Lake Placid -- 12/31/2011 |
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Ice Skating for New Year's Eve. Lake Placid -- 12/31/2011 |
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Ice Skating for New Year's Eve. Lake Placid -- 12/31/2011 |
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Ice Skating for New Year's Eve. Lake Placid -- 12/31/2011 |
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Tammy climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Tammy climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Tammy climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Tammy climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Tammy climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Tammy climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Tammy climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Tammy climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily climbing Pitchoff Right. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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I really thought this would be a good idea. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily was very embarrassed. And since she was belaying she couldn't really pretend to not know me. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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A bit cold at first. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Sun's Out, Guns Out! This applies even when ice climbing. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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No, I'm not going to do it without the pants. Shrinkage... Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Got warm really fast. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Mock me all you want, but admit that you would do it too. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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I did the entire climb. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Pitchoff Right... Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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...or Pitchoff Wrong? Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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I'm embarrassed that I did this... but not so embarrassed that I won't put a dozen photos on my website. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Ok, that's the last one. Cascade Pass -- 1/1/2012 |
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Emily and Riven. Jay, NY -- 1/2/2012 |
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IT'S SO FLUFFY I COULD DIE! Jay, NY -- 1/2/2012 |
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Great New Year's Trip! Jay, NY -- 1/2/2012 |