Shawagunks shenanigans

Brian, Joana, and Dave (a newfound central park bouldering connection) left the city just as the sun was peeking up through the haze, meeting Guillaume at the New Paltz EMS, where he was waiting for the fog to lift with coffee and a smile. Looking at that mug, it's clear he has a better inkling than any of us of what's to come.


We hiked from the Trapps parking lot through the mist, and it was immediately obvious that things were going to be a little wet.



While waiting for the sun to rise, Guillaume tossed down a TR on No Picnic (5.4+), which Joana gamely tackled first (despite pole-induced injuries).



We then split up, with Guillaume and Joana heading to the Boxcar boulders and Dave, Brian, and me roping up for Frog's Head (5.6-). Fun lead, with good varying moves on polished but solid holds. Solid belay ledge after P1, but it was absolutely baking in the sun. Congrats to Dave for surviving his first multipitch trad route with flying colors! And much props to Brian for running all the way down the Carriage Road and back to retrieve another rope from Guillaume - that's quite a warm-up...




Dehydration and heat exhaustion looming, we walked off the GT ledge and rejoined G+J for a little roadside bouldering. Most impressively, Guillaume showed off his mastery of the zen of spotting.
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Afterwards, due to Dave's excellent rapport with the rangers, we found the local swimming hole where the water was comfortably *freezing*...


Photos taken by Brian and me, see more here.