Joe Vitti leading a beautiful grade 4 pitch
Once or twice during the winter many of the local guide services get together with the DEC Catskill Forest Preserve rangers to ice climb. This gathering is meant to acquaint many of the rangers with the activity and to help the guides and rangers feel comfortable calling upon each other during a rescue situation.
The gathering is usually held during the midwinter in an area that has easy access. The past few years it has been held at Santa Cruz Falls in Twilight Park. The area is off limits to climbers, but the owners were gracious enough to allow the training to be held there. It’s a beautiful spot, it’s treat to climb there, and it’s good to get to know the rangers better. They’re committed to they’re jobs, and if there’s a rescue scenario they’ll be there to help out.
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- Setting up ropes
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- Rob Mecus, on the left, equipping some of the other rangers
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- Rob Mecus leading one of the nicest lines there
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- Rob and Ben (both rangers) climbing. These guys both climb around the Hudson Valley a lot!
