The North Face of Pitchoff, Jan. 19

In addition to running Valley Vertical Adventures, I work for Mountain Skills Climbing Guides, based out of New Paltz, NY. Doug Ferguson, the owner there, provides me with work to fill in the holes in my schedule, and allows me to work for Mountain Skills so that I can continue to guide in the Shawangunks, where access to permits is both challenging and slightly political. Last Saturday I had a wonderful day of ice climbing at the North Face of Pitchoff in the Adirondacks with two of Doug's regular clients, Andrei and Galina.

Andrei and Galina have climbed a lot of mountains in western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Originally from Russia, they took up climbing after they moved to the United States 14 years ago. Since then they've climbed Robson, Rainier, Shuksan, Athabasca, Andromeda and others. However, they'd only ice climbed two times prior to last Saturday.

However, if Saturday, their third day of ice climbing, was any indication this couple is physically fit, determined to succeed and unafraid of falling. They will be ice climbing very well before too long. While navigating significant crowds we still managed to climb four classic routes and nearly 700' of climbing at the North Face of Pitchoff - Hammond Egger, Tendonitis, Arm and Hammer, and Moss-Ghyll. Thanks Andrei and Galina for a fun day in the Adirondacks!