According to neice, The Black Dike has seen its first ascent of the season. How much longer 'till we have ice that most of us are actually able to climb? Any predictions? Or at least some pictures posted of top roping on dead trees, or some other form of ice training? Winter is fast approaching, everyone get ready.

~Kevin

All my spiky things are sharp and my warm gear is standing by. All I need is some good ice.......

Kathy

I'm afraid of ice. And I think I don't like it.

riiiiiiight.

I know I won't really get any sympathy since I wanted a baby and got pregnant intentionally, but waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa a whole season off of ice climbing. I really don't know what to make of a whole winter without the prospect of climbing or skiing.

But in good news for the rest of you, it's highly likely to be the best ice season in recent history.

I know I won't really get any sympathy

Oh you've got sympathy. I think I can write for all of us in wishing you a happy gestation and even more when your priorities drastically change.

Congratulations to you!

But in all likelihood you won't be back to a full climbing schedule for, oh, about 20 years.

You mean that climing once a month isn't a full climbing schedule?! ...

Bring on the snow (and ice!!!)

Alas, ice climbing season has devolved into a couple times on rock when it is warm enough and once or twice with the tools. This is, of course, much improved from the days when my kids were small and my entire climbing year was leading up Three Pines once. The parenting gives back in other ways, though, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have and continue to do so, Learning. Does this mean you won't be X-c skiing by me as I thrash up some easy route covered in fluffy white this year? I hope you still get out and expect you will. Even more fun is X-C skiing with the young-un in a carry pack! Just get someone heavier than Smike to set the tracks for you so you don't keep collapsing into it.

Sounds like you're volunteering to me!

climbing whats that?. ice is only for my drinks right now. fact i haven't even climbed anything in well over a year, maybe 2 even

You're starting to sound like Eddie!

Thats sounds more like eddie...

Hahaha! Like LTL is gonna be carrying the little-guy... I think that task may fall to someone who falls less often... Like, well, me...

No photos, sorry, but 2 x 35' of solid, dead white oak* this afternoon means the pre-season fun has begun. It was a bit uncomfortable in my ice gloves at 60+ degrees though.

* Route name: "Murphy's Lawg"

Ok here we go... get your sh*t ready and stop screwing around on dead wood. If things come to pass over the next 2 weeks as they are looking right now this could be the best start in many years… (Thank you Molly )

Dude, if there's actually ice in two weeks, I'm going! I've dreamt about ice climbing 3 times in the last couple of weeks...

So, the baby kicking away inside brings on dreams of kicking crampons into bright ice! Hope your dream ice is ready when you are, LTL.

Sweet! You just may get some ice in this year!

At least I wouldn't be wearing flip flops...

Just checked - I TR'ed East Crag on Nov 12 last year. Probably a pic of it somewhere here. Real ice, plus several inches of snow. The moss top moves were not frozen though.

Gotta love a moss top out. That is the main reason to keep an adze on one of your tools, at least in the early season. That also works great for frozen mud, which at least makes you think you have a solid placement.

If climbing frozen turf is your thing then head to Scotland. There was a humorous account in Alpinist 24 or 25 on Scottish winter climbing.

Also found this gear description on a UK site -
"Mixed Climbing - ...Properly frozen turf is a revelation to climb on with placements as secure as ice and even at times offering protection for ice hooks or "warthogs" basically old style drive-in thin ice pegs."

Whats shaping up is not going to be that glaze of crud you posted a pic of last year

Get ready ... ... ...

Well the cold air is in place up here in the daks now. It's supposed to drop down into the teens each night for the next week or so.

Should be a good time for the NY/New England high peaks. I had a look at the GFS model yesterday - it is forecasting that the 850mb level (about a mile high in the atmosphere) will not be above freezing until after thanksgiving or early december. that's by a comfortable margin, since the 0C line dropped down to Georgia not so long ago...

Gotta love a low OC line.

or a high hemline...

Little Black Dike was climbed yesterday, according to NEice.com.

Game on!

Hmm, sounds kinda kinky.

We climbed Hanging Spoons yesterday.

The seal has been broken as far south as PA

Geez, must have missed my phone call about going : )

You could've come with me to the Daks and climbed on ice which actually took 16cm screws!

But you didn't want to...

I know it's probably a longshot since it's warmed up a bit and has rained but since I'll be in Palenville for a couple of days, would it be worth it for me to bring the ice toys? Anyone in the area on friday?

Harry, I think something like East Crag would still be good. I drove through there on Sunday and it looked like a respectable ice climb from the road.....

Yo Dilly, you didn't have to drive to the Adirondacks to sink 16's. Stoney Clove took 16's all the way on at least two routes on Monday the 24th. Little Black Dike and Stagefright were both in fairly solid, minus the heinous topout for Stagefright. Both pitches of the curtain were in, as was Rons Gully and The Entertainer. It has not warmed up at all. In fact, this is perfect ice building weather! So the question is...who hasn;t started their ice season yet...and why haven't you????

RR

I haven't started yet and am chomping at the bit, but no ride. Looks like tomorrow will have to be a family day. Oh well, that's what the holidays are for. Happy turkey day, turkeys!
P.S.- Any offers received before 10AM today may force me to pack ice gear.