Friday, February 11, 2011

Wow, and right in our backyard


Palenville Coronary from Chris Lamme on Vimeo.

Palenville Coronary (WI6 M7?) New mixed route in Kaaterskill Clove, put up by Brad Heller. Some info here and here. Best part? From the Alpinist (emphasis mine):

It started out as a seemingly normal day of climbing for Brad Heller and Chris Lamme. Heller, who has only been ice climbing for about a year, wanted to get out and Lamme wanted to film his friend climbing. The pair found a third partner after posting on an internet forum and headed to New York's Catskills. Fresh back from a NOLS course in Patagonia, their third, Kyle Gay, had never before caught a fall while belaying.

The day changed when Heller spotted a delicate line flowing down a rocky overhang and thought it "looked rad." Lamme rappelled down with his Handycam. Three hours and five falls later, Heller scratched up the turfy finish with a broken pinky finger, sprained ankle and first ascent.