Gothics(NY) in Snow, 1971

We were 16, and neither had a driver's license; my dad dropped us off in Keene Valley in a vicious snowstorm, and we dug down in a lean-to to spend the night (snow up to the eaves). The next morn was so beautiful, we continued to John's Brook and went up Gothics. Upper Left: The cone of Gothics as seen from the pass with Saddleback. We left our snowshoes here, and waddled up through the 2' of new snow on a thick hardpack base. Upper Right: We passed this group of much better-prepared climbers. We were wearing jeans, summer boots, and using ski poles. Back then, ice axes tended to be much longer. Lower Left: Paul, looking at the next peak of Gothics. Lower Right: Yours truly, with Haystack in back at L, and the edge of Basin at R. This collage originates from a cheap, plastic-lens Instamatic camera.