This is something I want to get into; I've been to the Himalayas and want to go back and get a little higher this time. Anybody here done any serious climbing ever? And by that, I mean with ropes, ice axes, etc? And does anybody know any good mountaineering schools? EMS and the American Alpine Institute look like they have good programs, so I'm just wondering if anybody knows anything. Thanks.
I didn't realize that among our ranks, we had a real MOUNTAIN MAN. Sam, have you also thought about minoring in muscrat huntin'?
Texxx, you seem like an adventerous and spirited lad, despite your prudishness in certain areas. You are hereby invited to mountaineer with me should you so choose.
Sam, Not too many mountaineers around in Houston. Actually I was just REI the other day and noticed a new display of ice axes(not technical axes, but good for glacier slogs). When I questioned the climbing employee, he said they sold quite a few. I guess folks are going down to Orizaba. Well to answer your questions somewhat. I have some mountaineering experience. Mostly down in Patagonia. I also work for the North Carolina Outward Bound School. Outward Bound(and NOLS of course) do offer mountaineering courses; however, if you are looking purely for technical skills I would recommend the American Alpine Institute. I haven't taken any of their courses, but they are recommended by my coworkers. As far as getting prepared for mountaineering in Texas. The book, The Freedom of the Hills, is an amazing resource on climbing and mountaineering. A good source for conditioning workouts is www.bodyresults.com The best mountaineering bbs that I have found is at www.cascadeclimbers.com I hope this helps
Thanks Calvin much appreciated. I think I am going to go with AAI as they seem to have their act together. I'm actually in New York not Texas, not a lot of mountains in manhattan, so I guess, uh, stairmaster?
To climb those "mountains" in manhattan I'd suggest some suction cups and a spiderman suit. Mountaineering sounds like a lot of fun but I wouldn't know the first place to start.
Sam I'm not a mountaineer nor ever have been. But if your looking for some practice climbs. We just bought a weekend home in the Catskills about 2 and a half hours out of the city and there are several places that look like a good place to climb. Our house is about half an hour from Kaaterskill falls, the highest waterfall in NY after Niagara. The hike and climb is awesome! On route 23, off of 87 towards Albany, goes right up the side of the mountain and there are some amazing rock faces that I see people climbing all the time and right about now they are icing over. 100 to 200 straight up ice. It's pretty cool! We're heading out in a couple of hours to spend 10 days at our house that overlooks Windham's ski slopes! It's our first Christmas in our new house! Anyhoo You should check out the area! Merry Christmas damnit to all!
If I remember correctly, I think yipengzhao has had some experience with mountaineering schools, so you might want to ask him, Sam.
True indeed. I was thinking about the Swarthmore College of Advanced Mountaineering Science continuing ed program.
By all accounts that I've read - and I'm only going off reading here, as I have not done it myself, though really really want to - the best mountaineering guiding school in the country is located in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with it's access to Grand Teton National PArk. Exum - http://www.aerialboundaries.com/ Essentially, they're the best because their guides are the best. They only take people like that guy who guided the blind dude to the top of Everest, and even then it is a couple of summer "internship" process to make sure they are good guides.
