Shoulder Season

This past Veteran’s Day John and I went to Mt. Minsi at the Delaware Water Gap to climb the Teardrop Buttress, 5.3 G.  John has made a few trips to Mt. Minsi this year without me, leading Surprise, 5.4 PG and following on Osprey, 5.6 PG-13.  He’s yet to climb Teardrop Buttress, but has heard me talk about it as well as its neighboring route, Tears Are Falling, 5.5 PG-13.   I lead a short section of Teardrop Buttress, just below the crux bulge, and John lead the rest of the climb. 
 
This was the second time I climbed this route this year, third time overall.  All three times I’ve lead the bottom section, which isn’t long enough to be considered a pitch of climbing.  My goal has been feel confident enough to lead the entire route, since it is right next to a gulley that forms the Minsi Curtain (ice).  Unfortunately, I’m not quite brave enough to get on the sharp end for the entirety of the route just yet.  I’ve been able to climb the route cleanly, including the crux.  But I’m still not mentally ready to commit to be the leader on the entire route.      

 

Semi-Hanging Belay on Teadrop Buttress

Rappel from Teardrop Buttress, looking up Tears Are Falling



 

After finishing up on Teardrop Buttress, John and I walked back to the Practice Wall which is just above the descent trail.  We had about an hour to kill so we top-roped a slabby section of the wall exactly below where I encountered a copperhead and later, a bear with mywife.  This time, the snakes and bears kept away.

Temperatures were pretty mild that day while today it’s in the high 30’s with a bitter wind chill.  Fall is quickly turning into winter and soon it will be too cold to rock climb outside but not yet cold enough to climb ice.  The Shoulder Season of climbing, when the gyms are packed and the ice tools are sharpened.  I’m hopeful that I’ll get one or two climbs in before the end of the season since it’s likely I won’t set foot in a gym…it’s just not my thing.