McKenzie Pond, NY

While in Vermont, we took the car ferry from Charlotte to Essex, New York in order to spend a day climbing at McKenzie Pond. The ride across Lake Champlain provided stunning views of the Adirondacks and the fall foliage was in full bloom. We stopped for coffee in Lake Placid and then spent the afternoon enjoying the crisp granite blocks of McKenzie Pond. Another perfect day.

Erika Curry-Elrod floating 'Makaia's Problem' (v1)

A four photo sequence of 'Slobadon' (v5)

Adirondack Granite

Smuggler's Notch, VT

Erika and I began our our six weeks of adventure in the state of Vermont. In between eating maple syrup covered pancakes and staring wondrously at the kaleidoscopic fall colors, we managed a bit of climbing. Here are some photos from one of the days we spent playing around on the perfect schist boulders of Smuggler's Notch.

'Nemesis' (v5)

'One Eyed Monster' (v5)

'Jane Fonda' (v0)

'Pac Man' (v4)

'The Roots' (v5)

Joe's Valley

'UMWA Problem' (v1)

'UMWA Problem' (v1)

Erika and I met up for a few days of climbing in Joe's Valley. The weather was a bit on the warm side, but it was still a great trip. I climbed a number of projects and made progress on some others. Erika climbed her first v2, and left with enough projects to entice her to return. We didn't take a lot of photos, but here are a few we took on the last day.

'Sun In My Eye' (v4)

'Fuchsia' (v4)

Fall In RMNP

Erika and I spent Saturday climbing in Rocky Mountain National Park. The aspens were glowing yellow and orange, and glacial sediment painted Lake Haiyaha greenish blue. It was a perfect Fall day.

Vedauwoo

The Nautilus

Erika and I spent the weekend in Vedauwoo. I had heard mixed reviews on the bouldering there and I was interested to see it myself. The climbing primarily involves using crystals and cobbles on vertical faces and slabs. There are certainly many high quality exceptions to this rule, but Vedauwoo is definitely a bit more about technique than thuggery. This suits my strengths and I quite enjoyed the climbing. No matter what you think of the climbing, there is no denying the beauty of the landscape. Golden granite blocks speckled with yellow and red lichen rise from a forest of aspens and pines. Erika and I enjoyed two beautiful days of climbing and an incredibly starry night of camping. I came away intrigued and looking forward to revisiting this place sometime in the future.

'Erotic States of Mind' (v6)- The Citadel

Erika Curry-Elrod making an impressive send of the outstanding 'Organic' (v1) at The Citadel.

'Soak 'Em Inside Her' (v5)

Beautiful Sherman granite

Alderfer/Three Sisters Bouldering

'Around The Horn' (v1)

With only a few hours to go climbing on Monday, Erika and I decided to check out out an area close to her house. We opted to explore the granite of Alderfer/Three Sisters Park. With our limited time, we were only able to check out The Eggs, but it seems like there are lots of blocks hidden throughout the woods. I was taking an active rest day, so I didn't try anything too hard, but everything I climbed was super fun. This place is a great local area and a good place to check out if you're looking for something a little off the beaten path in the Front Range.

'Dihedral Problem' (v2)

A Perfect Day At Mt. Evans

The perfect sloper of 'Downtrail Face' (v6)

'A Little Something For The Effort' (v2)

A three photo sequence of the opening moves of 'Downtrail Face' (v6)

'The Ladder' (v2)

'Last Of The Ohitians' (v2)

'Trailside Arete' (v3)