Yesterday was, for me, the best day of the ice climbing season. I worked with a climber named Brian Fry (in photo) who picked up the climbing bug about a year ago and has thrown himself all in. The weather was fantastic and the ice is in it's best condition of the year. The winter has passed in fits and starts with periods of cold sandwiched between periods of very warm temps. This is somewhat typical for the Catskill region but this winter has been particularly egregious in it's treatment of those of us who are sustained by outdoor play. I hope that we are in for a bit more cold before all the ice falls down and we are into that rainy cold between time before rock climbing season can begin.

I will be going to the desert towards the end of March to climb at Red Rocks and to participate in the American Mt. Guides Association Rock Instructor's Exam in Joshua Tree National Monument. This will be an interesting two weeks. It has been about fifteen years since I have been to Red Rocks and it sounds like the development of the city, of it having grown right up to the boundary of the park might be a bit of a bummer. City light can't take away all of those brilliant routes though. If only I had some clients to work with while I am there I'd really be jazzed.