Beginning my first climb... ever!
Are you one of the many New Yorkers that huddle indoors during the cold winter months, having lunch delivered to your office rather than braving the blustery conditions outside? Are you tired of living the life of a hermit on these long frosty weekends? It's time to embrace the weather and get outdoors to try something exciting and new!
A mere 1.5 hours from New York City lies the charming town of New Paltz, home to Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) Climbing School. You’ll have a blast and work up a sweat as you climb the face of a frozen waterfall with an expert guide!
EMS offers a beginner ice climbing course for a reasonable $140 that includes equipment rental and the services of a knowledgeable climbing instructor. My sister and I took advantage of this offer last December and couldn’t have been happier. Our instructor, Peter, was incredibly informative, friendly, and patient.
On climbing day we tackled two different areas. The first climb was a slightly sloping 30-foot wall of ice. Before beginning, our guide covered important safety instructions including how to assume a resting position should you get tired during your climb (very likely!), how to belay (which is how one climber holds the rope of another to prevent them from falling), how to tie proper knots including a figure 8 knot, how to wield ice axes, and how strap on crampons. As beginners, we both ‘fell’ a couple of times, though our ropes caught us immediately each time. There is an incredible thrill that comes from dangling off a cliff, swinging a scythe-like instrument into a block of slick white ice, and digging in with toe points as if your life depended on it. After a short lunch break, Peter led us to our second climbing location – a higher, more challenging frozen waterfall that cascaded down a sloping rock face. This climb was tiring, but at the end of the climb and ultimately, at the end of the day, we felt accomplished and inspired.
On our drive back to New York, we immediately began planning our next climbing adventure. Once you try this somewhat obscure sport, you too may find yourself wishing winter lasted just a little while longer.
Comments