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Kate's Adirondacks Adventure
Aug. 30th, 2011 06:39 amMaybe it's just that I went to Secret Science Club on Weds, which always reminds me of Pleasure Salon, if the latter were about science and had a speaker, ( science rocks for realz ), but the journey to Adirondack Rock & River reminded me of going to Camp. I totally got out of work late bc while I had nothing to do at 5pm, I had a PT appt at 6 and then some work magically found its way to my desk while I was out grr. Caught the last bus (for a while) to New Paltz, where my long-suffering climbing mentor picked me up. It started raining, for which I would've had a fit if I were him, but he is more patient than I. He was shocked that I wanted to eat 8 BK sliders, even between the two of us, but that was dinner. We got to Rock & River by about 1, where the party was going full blast. In what would become a trend for the weekend, we were the last to arrive, to much rejoicing.
I felt less bad about my extremely late arrival bc we spent Fri morning hanging around the breakfast room at R&R while GMac took a conference call. Then we climbed ( classics. )
We stopped for Maker's Mark at the Ausable Inn. The bartender was funny and said it would be okay for me to drink mine on the rocks bc I'm a lady. Teehee. GMac teased me on the way out that the Marcy airfield was the perfect place to learn to drive, but then on our way back to the lodge, he turned in to the field. He said that being relaxed would help my first lesson in how to drive stick. I drove around the field several times and feel like I have a little feel for it and a vague idea of how it's supposed to work, but he's hella better at explaining top rope anchors than driving. I only stalled once, but really, I think I'll stick to airfields and empty parking lots for now.
RobO had organized catering for dinner and hanging out with 15 other climbers was fun. I had Stag's Leap with dinner and then I had Madeira on the porch. I've fallen in love with the Climber's Lodge at Rock & River. There's a geometric patterned staircase to the loft, but the centerpiece is a vast fireplace with a magnificent stone chimney. What a clever idea to build a chimney from stone - and leave enough space in the mortar for small fingers and cams! They even have top ropes permanently attached to anchors at the top, in case you didn't think they were serious. I climbed 3 routes in the back: I still don't have the cojones to try climbing the front while there's a fire in it. (And, the front doesn't really have handholds built in, though that didn't stop RobO or PYF from trying. They should know better at their age!)
Despite a late bedtime and a not late enough start, Sat was an awesome day of climbing. ( Apparently climbing is more fun with other people. ) All in all, it was the best climbing I've had since the accident and it reminded me that I'm pretty good at this stuff and why I like it.
I actually watched the storm clouds start moving in as I belayed him on the cliff, with the start of sunset on the horizon. Just gorgeous. Back at the lodge, we had sausage lasagna and garlic bread and birthday cake. GMac organized Adirondacks trivia with our three club officers as the contestants. I suggested the final question, asking them to tie knots behind their back while blindfolded. (I also contributed 2 blindfolds and one of the prizes.) Instant hilarity, especially as one of the cute girls in the club was passed out, but woke up only to see that bit, which confused the heck out of her. We finished off the Madeira and went to bed.
Most everyone left the next morning, but for $10pp, we decided to wait out the storm at the lodge. Good thing too, as our friends spent 12 hours in traffic, dodging flooded roads in the rain. Instead we went to town for lunch and dinner supplies. We stopped at the Mountaineer, but there were no bargains to be had at their garage sale. We were shopping in the main store when the owner said, "We're closing in 5 mins bc of the rain." We were probably the last customers ever at the garage sale annex. When we got back to the lodge, the power was already out and the bathtub had drained itself. *sighs* GMac and RobO had a blast climbing the chimney, mostly to open and close the skylights based on smokiness and how much water was getting in. GMac made me climb again as well, pointing out that I had a free, private climbing wall I wasn't using. I enjoyed hanging out with them, but zomg I need some alone time now. I took a nap and then RobO grilled the steak and lamb.
After dinner, he suggested we tell ghost stories, but no one knew any good ones, so instead, he suggested we tell about our biggest epic. I can't believe that in a crowd including someone with decades of mountaineering experience, our club chair, and a dedicated mountaineer like RobO, I had the worst epic, by far. ( You know what mine is. ) wtf. I'm doing something wrong. Also, GMac made me drink single malt. He's so mean.
We all quietly left at 6:15 the next morning. The drive back wasn't bad: as soon as we got into town, they had power and we stopped at Starbucks for breakfast. There were a few detours because 87 was closed from Harriman south, but we made it back to NYC a bit afternoon. The price of driving me to my apt was lunch so I took GMac to Salumeria Rosi, which I don't think he liked all that much, even though I ordered all sorts of nummy things and didn't steal all his wine. Then there was work and dealing with Mr. Grumpypants. Totally worth it.
I felt less bad about my extremely late arrival bc we spent Fri morning hanging around the breakfast room at R&R while GMac took a conference call. Then we climbed ( classics. )
We stopped for Maker's Mark at the Ausable Inn. The bartender was funny and said it would be okay for me to drink mine on the rocks bc I'm a lady. Teehee. GMac teased me on the way out that the Marcy airfield was the perfect place to learn to drive, but then on our way back to the lodge, he turned in to the field. He said that being relaxed would help my first lesson in how to drive stick. I drove around the field several times and feel like I have a little feel for it and a vague idea of how it's supposed to work, but he's hella better at explaining top rope anchors than driving. I only stalled once, but really, I think I'll stick to airfields and empty parking lots for now.
RobO had organized catering for dinner and hanging out with 15 other climbers was fun. I had Stag's Leap with dinner and then I had Madeira on the porch. I've fallen in love with the Climber's Lodge at Rock & River. There's a geometric patterned staircase to the loft, but the centerpiece is a vast fireplace with a magnificent stone chimney. What a clever idea to build a chimney from stone - and leave enough space in the mortar for small fingers and cams! They even have top ropes permanently attached to anchors at the top, in case you didn't think they were serious. I climbed 3 routes in the back: I still don't have the cojones to try climbing the front while there's a fire in it. (And, the front doesn't really have handholds built in, though that didn't stop RobO or PYF from trying. They should know better at their age!)
Despite a late bedtime and a not late enough start, Sat was an awesome day of climbing. ( Apparently climbing is more fun with other people. ) All in all, it was the best climbing I've had since the accident and it reminded me that I'm pretty good at this stuff and why I like it.
I actually watched the storm clouds start moving in as I belayed him on the cliff, with the start of sunset on the horizon. Just gorgeous. Back at the lodge, we had sausage lasagna and garlic bread and birthday cake. GMac organized Adirondacks trivia with our three club officers as the contestants. I suggested the final question, asking them to tie knots behind their back while blindfolded. (I also contributed 2 blindfolds and one of the prizes.) Instant hilarity, especially as one of the cute girls in the club was passed out, but woke up only to see that bit, which confused the heck out of her. We finished off the Madeira and went to bed.
Most everyone left the next morning, but for $10pp, we decided to wait out the storm at the lodge. Good thing too, as our friends spent 12 hours in traffic, dodging flooded roads in the rain. Instead we went to town for lunch and dinner supplies. We stopped at the Mountaineer, but there were no bargains to be had at their garage sale. We were shopping in the main store when the owner said, "We're closing in 5 mins bc of the rain." We were probably the last customers ever at the garage sale annex. When we got back to the lodge, the power was already out and the bathtub had drained itself. *sighs* GMac and RobO had a blast climbing the chimney, mostly to open and close the skylights based on smokiness and how much water was getting in. GMac made me climb again as well, pointing out that I had a free, private climbing wall I wasn't using. I enjoyed hanging out with them, but zomg I need some alone time now. I took a nap and then RobO grilled the steak and lamb.
After dinner, he suggested we tell ghost stories, but no one knew any good ones, so instead, he suggested we tell about our biggest epic. I can't believe that in a crowd including someone with decades of mountaineering experience, our club chair, and a dedicated mountaineer like RobO, I had the worst epic, by far. ( You know what mine is. ) wtf. I'm doing something wrong. Also, GMac made me drink single malt. He's so mean.
We all quietly left at 6:15 the next morning. The drive back wasn't bad: as soon as we got into town, they had power and we stopped at Starbucks for breakfast. There were a few detours because 87 was closed from Harriman south, but we made it back to NYC a bit afternoon. The price of driving me to my apt was lunch so I took GMac to Salumeria Rosi, which I don't think he liked all that much, even though I ordered all sorts of nummy things and didn't steal all his wine. Then there was work and dealing with Mr. Grumpypants. Totally worth it.
