We've had lots of rain lately, so much so that people are venting about it on Gunks.com. Anyhow, after a two week enforced layoff we got down and had a really good weather day...dry rock and comfortable conditions. but the layoff showed. I almost botched the crux move on "69" and wigged myself out doing it. We then moved over to "Black Fly" and found that the crux sequences are just as tricky as ever. Photos: me leading out to the crux on "69" and Chris on "Black Fly"

We got sidetracked by a rainy spell that had everyone complaining, plus Ed had a tooth infection that turned into a root canal. Finally we got fed up and headed down on Saturday, the Fourth of July. We bypassed the anthill conditions in the Trapps and headed to Peterskill. AMAZING! We had it all to ourselves. Had some camera problems ( my bad) but here is a sample of climbs in the 5.6 range.

On a beautiful Sunday we again skipped the zoo at the Trapps and went to Peterskill. It was a three-generational climbing crew...Greg, Chris and Ed. We had it to ourselves although things started to get crowded at noon. So here are a bunch of pictures of two very nice climbs, Quick Eight and Pebble Fingers, both in the 5.7 range..

July 16th...what a day! Iffy weather forecast. We drove down to New Paltz only to be met by blinding rainstorms. Tried to get into the Inner Wall Rock Gym but it was closed. On the way back to Albany, we called Albany Indoor Rock but it was closed until mid-afternoon. Continued on to Little Falls where the sun was out and it was hot and steamy. We only had time for one climb, "Dance on a Volcano" that is right over Lock 17. You start in a jungle and climb straight up an arete until the top where you can get out on the face. Very sketchy protection and sloping hand holds. A strange end to a strange day.

July 23rd...started out at Peterskill, but it was too buggy, too wet, and too crowded as well. So we headed up the road to the Trapps and, pressed for time, took the first dry face available..the Brat face. Started right out with Little Rascals, 5.8+ and had time for a couple of laps.

August 6th...very nice weather but we were both feeling sketchy after a two week rain delay. We set up No Picnic and had a great time. There are no good photos of Chris....my bad!

August 14th, hot, humid and greasy rock...some call it the off season in the Gunks. We finally wound up toproping Squiggles. The last photo shows Cris attemting a really baffling 5.10...Jacob's Ladder. It is still as incomprehensible as ever.

August20th...another hot, humid day. Looking for shade, we tried Handy Andy. It was not my day, that's for sure. Chris carried the ball and all the photos are of him. First a tutoiral on Handy Andy ( 5.7) and then some thin face climbing on the Mental Block ( 5.9+ maybe?)

End of August. We got a great day and made a threesome, Chris, Steve Whitney and myself. Grabbed the Brat Block and enjoyed exploring a variety of routes from 5.6 to 5.8+. Steve is sporting his vintage shoes from the 80s.

Our last session in August was again in the Gunks with Steve Whitney. Steve made movies of a number of climbs but unless I have a breakthrough, I don't know how to post them. So...moving right along, here we go with photos of a beautiful September day at Peterskill. We did a climb called Sleepwalk (5.3) on the Bunk Wall and then moved over to the more somber Breakfast Wall. The last two photos show Chris tackling a typical hard overhanging 5.6.

October 1st! We got a late start and took the very first climb at the near end of the Trapps...a little known 5.3 called Short and Simple. It has a couple of possible starts and a real nice finish that you can't see because of the trees. Dodging raindrops we had a nice time exploring a new climb.

A beautiful October day. We found a "hidden" crag on top of the cliff and had it all to ourselves. After I led a nice little route (5.3?) up one side of the face we set up a toprope and tackled the overhaging middle section. At the end of our session several vultures gathered to watch us from the top-out point. They seemed quietly amused by our antics. Chris suggested that we call our route " Five Vultures"...you can see four of them in the picture.

A day in the 40's. Even a familiar route seems new and stange in cold conditions. We had a late start and settled for a few laps on Black Fly trying to stay warm. Some folks preferred to go for a horse ride.