Gunks Climbing Weekend!

Spring is here! I know many of us have been patiently waiting for this. I can't wait to kick-off the climbing season. For many of us, this is the whole point of what we do. Gym climbing is a great way to practice, meet people, and stay in shape. But nothing really compares to the adventures that await in the natural vertical world. For me, it's also a profoundly humbling experience, and makes me not want to take things for granted. Of course, for many of us, that especially includes nature and the creatures we share it with. And how lucky are we to have a world-class climbing mecca only 2hr away? It's one of Earth's Last Great Places (http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/newyork/placesweprotect/easternnewyork/wherewework/eastern-shawangunk-mountains.xml).

Please join us then, for a full weekend of climbing, in The Gunks (http://www.mountainproject.com/v/the-gunks/105798167)!

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Requirements:

I should mention, first of all, that this isn't a trip for everyone. If you've never climbed with us in the gym, please understand that there are many more variables outdoors, so we'd really prefer to climb with you indoors first. This is for safety reasons. If our climbing meetups at Brooklyn Boulders are too difficult for you to attend, let me know, and maybe we can work something out.

Secondly, we're not guides. Some of us have gear and know how to use it. We've gone through the necessary training to build anchors and lead outdoor climbs. Still, we're here to have fun too, and so we'll expect that you'll have a certain level of proficiency. We don't want to have to worry about teaching you how to belay. Also, we'll strongly encourage you to consider taking one of the following courses with us while we're there. These are not mandatory, but very useful for anyone who wants to climb regularly:

Courses:

Top-rope setup: This is the course to take that'll cover the fundamentals and make you an autonomous outdoor climber. You'll be able to invite whomever you want, and just go, knowing that you have the skills to be safe. And of course, we hope you'll climb a lot with us too! You'll learn how to assess a site for climbing and anchoring potential, and how to set anchors at the top and bottom of the crag using a variety of methods and materials. You'll also learn how to deal with the typical issues that can complicate a day of top-roping: difficult cliff-top access, troublesome situations at the edge, awkward descent options, and other potential problems. It is recommended that you have some outdoor climbing experience before taking this course so that you have a context for the skills you'll be learning. Trad Climbing: This is only for advanced climbers. Still, most of the Gunks is trad, and leaders are always most welcomed and appreciated. Leading a climb from the ground up is an awesome responsibility that is equally rewarding. You'll learn the skills and knowledge you'll need to explore the cliff from the "sharp" end of the rope. Leading is a lot more than just going up first and sticking in some gear. You'll learn about assessing your party in relation to your objectives, route choices and decision-making on the lead, protecting the leader and the seconds, establishing anchors en route, efficient belay-station management, and planning for the descent. Efficiency and error correction play big roles in this course, and the responsibility of the leader lies in not underestimating the commitment being taken on. Before enrolling, participants should be able to follow 5.7 climbs with confidence, have extensive top roping experience, and possess a thorough understanding of technical climbing equipment. Each of these courses will be run by professional guides, and there will be a nominal fee. Please let me know if you're interested in either of these options, and I'll get you more details.

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We'll be camping at Creek View (http://www.creekviewcampsite.com/). It's $20 per camp site, but we can share, so assume $10 per person. Of course, you'll need a sleeping bag and tent in order to camp, but there's also a hostel in town if you need it. That being said, I'm looking forward to roasting tofu pups and vegan S'mores on the campfire, and sharing that with you all.

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As for the climbing, please bring gear if you have it (ropes, biners, racks, etc.) You'll also, of course, be responsible for your own personal gear (shoes, harness, helmet). We'll also be carpooling, so if you have a car, please let us know. Everyone will be expected to chip-in for gas. If you have neither, you can still come, and you can still contribute (a suggested donation of $10-20 would really help with the fee that Meetup charges for running Vedge). Of course, we'd still have to double-check that we have sufficient gear to accommodate everyone.

Since we're camping anyway, I think this might be a perfect time to get up at the crack of dawn on Sunday, and hit High Exposure (http://www.mountainproject.com/v/high-exposure/105798994) (photo below) when we can get it all to ourselves. High Exposure is a Gunks mega-classic, but it's usually extremely crowded on weekends, unless you get up very early. I'd be happy to lead a small group up High E.

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The area in which we'll be climbing is The Trapps (http://www.mountainproject.com/v/the-trapps/105798818). Please note that there's a $17 day pass for the area with a climbing permit. Alternatively, if you intend to climb with us regularly, a $90 year pass might make more sense.

How do we meet?

We will meet at 6:30am in the Starbucks at the corner of 14th St and 6th Ave in Manhattan. There will be waivers to sign and we will double-check that everyone has the gear they need. It's important, especially for those taking courses, that we get an early start, so please be on time.

Forms: Vedge Waiver (http://files.meetup.com/1813231/Vedge%20Waiver.pdf)