The Hamilton Outing Club headed to the Adirondacks on Feb. 5 to take advantage of the colder temperatures needed for ice climbing. The trip was led by Gaby Pilson ’17 and Assistant Director of Outdoor leadership Sarah Weis Jillings. Seasoned climbers as well as some new to the sport took part in the excursion.
Participants included Amin Babar ’20, Andrew Stiles ’18, Anna Mowat ’18, Abby Kaplan ’19, Jack Gumina ’19, Anne McGarvey ’17, Elise Lepage ’18, Gaby Pilson ’17, and Olivia Box ’17.
The crew hiked 20 minutes to get to the site, by Starbuck Mountain. Pilson, Jillings, Anne McGarvey ’17, and Anna Mowat ’18 set the anchors for two routes. Pilson, a skilled ice climber, gave a brief demonstration about the basics of ice climbing covering everything from terminology (it’s an ice tool, not an ice axe) to climbing tips.
For the rest of the afternoon, the group took turns climbing and belaying one another. Despite the cold, they got in plenty of good climbs on both routes. “I always love going ice climbing. It’s a great way to get into the woods for a day trip,” experienced climber McGarvey said. “The group was really open to trying new routes and pushing themselves. Everyone always got back on the ice.”
