The Gunks
The Gunks is the closest worthwhile climbing to NYC, and it happens to be pretty awesome. Unfortunately, its the closest climbing to NYC, so its gets packed with city folk top roping and getting ropes tangled on 5.4's. I managed to spend a dozen or so weekends in 2015 at the Gunks, which included my birthday weekend where I tried (and failed) to climb 27 pitches, as well as some below freezing days where we had the entire cliffs to ourselves. There were tons of great climbs in between, so here is a highlight reel of some of the more photogenic moments.
Rapping on a cool winter day with Chaoqing. The cold weather scared the tourists away!
The Dangler! The best 15' of 5.10 climbing in the Gunks, and I was stoked to sandbag Chaoqing into leading it.
Its a lot easier to play around when you aren't on the sharp end!
Leading the third pitch of CCK, which luckily is far easier than it looks!
Warming up on Frogs Head. In the summer people wait in line for this route, but for some reason the same crowds stay home in December.
Marco leading on the route Andrew. I was hoping he would pull left and try the roofs, but we weren't warmed up for 5.14 climbing just yet. Saving it for the onsight!
Wildlife!
The tallest cliffs at the Gunks are right around 70m, which makes for some really great double rope raps!
Early morning views from the top of the Trapps.
There is no better climb at the Gunks to sandbag a first timer on than High Exposure. The fact that it was pitch black was icing on the cake!
Gunks 2015 Highlights:
- Madams G's, led in a single 200' pitch
- High Exposure by headlamp
- MF 5.9+ onsight
- Retribution 5.10b
- Getting rained out 18 pitches into my birthday goal of 27, and spending the rest of the weekend barhopping through New Paltz
