Calling any and all frustrated ice climbers in the Mid Hudson Valley. Come to my house this Friday (anytime 3-6 PM) for the 1st Annual Great Poughkeepsie Bark Bash. We will whack, kick, and scratch our way up a few select trees. It's like ice climbing...except if you overdrive the tools, they get stuck much worse. Better tricep training this way you see.

There will be 4 "climbs" set up, each 20-30' tall. One is leadable (5 "bolts") while the others are top ropes. The grade runs from not-quite vertical (with easy stable feet, so it's pretty mellow) to a 15 degree overhanging trunk. That's the Pump-Master. Actually counting variations, there's 7 or 8 different things to do.

Bring your own crampons, tools and headlamp. Ropes are here. Helmet optional Fermented beverages may be provided...

PM me to confirm, so I can give you directions and just generally keep tabs on who's coming.

Rain or shine. Or snow...

For those who haven't seen the photos:
top rope
on lead

anyone from NYC heading up there?

This is a serious sickness. There must be a 12-step program.

But what am I but a helpless iron filing drawn by a huge magnet? So I'm sitting here trying to figure out a pretext to get out of work early on Friday or summon up the gall to go MIA (Rule of Thumb: No crisis ever erupts at work before 4 p.m.). OMG I've got this illness.

you people are pathetic.

I love it. You plan tree climbing after the cold finally arrives. I'm surprised you aren't hitting Moores with a headlamp instead. I bet you'd be able to TR something there by friday. Most would probably wait but you...

Mikey, stop acting like a dam monkey and get outta that tree and get up north... have you not noticed the *slight* drop in temps to say ohh minus something...

This is just so profoundly sad and desperate. Pack up your gear and buy an airline ticket to somewhere.