Ohioans seek snow+ice for training
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:36 amHey all,
So I'll give the obligatory preface - i've searched... I promise... With its lack of success, I thought I'd give a post up here a shot. If I missed it, I'm sorry... But also thank you for finding, because I couldn't...
So we are two climbers+backpackers with considerable experience in both from travels all over the country over a number of years. So we know when things aren't safe (and turn around), we're good on rope work, packing, planning, etc., etc.
We're both moving towards getting into mountaineering, though. We did Mt Wash last Feb via Lion's Head (used crampons, but otherwise a walk in the park), but are looking for a playground where we can work on our skills. Problem is, we live in Ohio - Columbus to be specific.
So we're looking for help in maybe (hopefully?) tracking down someplace with snow and a steep slope that isn't a 12 hour drive to the Adirondacks, as we only have a small window from 27th to 31st... In searching I've come across knob Smith's Knob in northern central PA, and that's about it...
To be clear, though, we're not dead set on a mountain, really (although if not, maybe within just a few hrs of a ski slope instead?) What we're more looking for is a good, snowy, steep place to practice our skills live (like arrests, rope management on the go, learning to quickly set up belays, etc. - the kind of stuff that you need snow and slope to really practice out with your hands). A place we can pause and spend some time going over things multiple times and getting comfortable... not needing to rush to finish a route.
So if you have any ideas, we'd be very appreciative. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday. Cheers!
-Chris
So I'll give the obligatory preface - i've searched... I promise... With its lack of success, I thought I'd give a post up here a shot. If I missed it, I'm sorry... But also thank you for finding, because I couldn't...
So we are two climbers+backpackers with considerable experience in both from travels all over the country over a number of years. So we know when things aren't safe (and turn around), we're good on rope work, packing, planning, etc., etc.
We're both moving towards getting into mountaineering, though. We did Mt Wash last Feb via Lion's Head (used crampons, but otherwise a walk in the park), but are looking for a playground where we can work on our skills. Problem is, we live in Ohio - Columbus to be specific.
So we're looking for help in maybe (hopefully?) tracking down someplace with snow and a steep slope that isn't a 12 hour drive to the Adirondacks, as we only have a small window from 27th to 31st... In searching I've come across knob Smith's Knob in northern central PA, and that's about it...
To be clear, though, we're not dead set on a mountain, really (although if not, maybe within just a few hrs of a ski slope instead?) What we're more looking for is a good, snowy, steep place to practice our skills live (like arrests, rope management on the go, learning to quickly set up belays, etc. - the kind of stuff that you need snow and slope to really practice out with your hands). A place we can pause and spend some time going over things multiple times and getting comfortable... not needing to rush to finish a route.
So if you have any ideas, we'd be very appreciative. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday. Cheers!
-Chris
Gravelrama 
down near Cleves: