Fossil Alpinism

This route is one of the easiest Grade V's in California. It is also one of the most enjoyable big walls in the High Sierra due to its r...

Travel to NYC and the closing week of school meant precious little time to exercise. I managed one short bouldering session and three aerobi...

Has come and gone. Several days of recitals, theatrical performances, packing, grading, speeches, celebration and equestrian events. The p...

The NCS term is coming to a close, so there will be little aerobics during the coming week. however, last week I did 18 short moderate laps...

Spirits and ibuprofen seem to be the answer for too many pitches for one and driving too many fence posts for the other.

Gary on the sharp end ... the NCS crag was wet and slimy but he handled it in style.

The black flies were brutal, but Hock and Gary had a great afternoon. They logged 15 short moderate pitches.

Have just re-read Chouinard's, Let My People Go Surfing. I headed out to the crag with the administration ... our CFO high up on the cru...

I was unloading some stuff at the cabin when I came across this gem. Since some of us are approaching 60 ... This hat is almost 20 years ol...

The Hochschartner and Ewing families vacationing in the Sierras. Memory has it that Jon was 2 years old!

Today's website picture from Chamonix. It seems that spring is coming to the lower reaches of the glacier, can anyone join us in late Ju...

Fantastic climbing and some of the most alpine terrain in the Sierras. Not a bad place to do climate change research. Kudos to Greg!

Heel hooking on the awkward 5.7 - 5.8 problem.

Greg - one of our younger Fossil Friends - just received an American Alpine research grant to study the Palisade Glacier in the Sierras. Ru...

At the crag!

A beautiful day and I called it quits at the office around 5:30. I lead a 5.6 crack, did a few laps on a top-rope and made it back for the...

Rumor has it that Greg has signed up for the West Face of Leaning Tower in mid-August. Hock has signed on for a four day weekend. Brian? Ma...

Larry and I have confirmed passage from NYC - Geneva from June 17 - July 2. (Click on the picture to enlarge the webcam photo of Chamonix fr...

Six laps on the 45 foot high "Hock's Blessing" a 5.6 route first climbed by Dave S. and Larry R.

Getting ready to do laps in mountain boots and with a pack on.

Reggie and Hock on top of Owl's Head, where Hock did five laps of the 5.2 corner. This week included: 6 short easy pitches (one on the s...

A=5.9 B = 5.11- C = 5.6 D = 5.9+ E = 5.6 F = 5.2 G = 5.10+ H = 5.10 I = 5.8

This is an iPhone photo of an amazing large format photograph. Come on up and visit the campus.

Tori and Greg ski mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies just a few weeks ago! (Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

Larry and I will spend most of our time in June at the Cosmique Hut, however this is where we will camp when in town.

Thus, I left work early and did some laps on the crag behind our ski hill.

The picture from the Torino Hut. The prominent spire is the Geant, a 4000M peak which was the first route that Hock and Mark did together o...

Betsy, the school CFO, working out budget parameters while doing laps on the 80' pitch behind campus (5.2).

Doing a bit of bouldering on Owl's Head ... Giant and Round Mountain off in the distance.

Click on this link to see this fantastic presentation of a world class mixed route.

This was a photo taken this afternoon from one of the ski lifts. The end of June looks like a "go." So, only six weeks to get fi...

This week Hock totals: 4 short easy pitches (one on the sharp-end), 2 short bouldering sessions (20-30 minutes), and 6 aerobic workouts (30-...

Click here to access this informative link.

Frendo Spur D+ (Fr Alpine) A classic mixed route at the grade. Cross the bergschrund and climb the snow terrasses rightwards until it is po...

Gervasutti Pillar TD+ (Fr Alpine) One of the great classics of the range. Fine climbing on the pillar followed by some tricky route finding ...

Selden and I spent 24 hours at Mohonk as I had some professional meetings to attend. Sunday yielded some nice bouldering, while Monday was ...

(Click to enlarge photo.) A picture of a portion of the NCS campus, with a view of Whiteface off in the distance. The center of the photo i...

Spring is here and I had a great 45 minute session. Lots of laps on easy 5.6-5.7 problems.

Interesting article about alpine climbing technique ... click here.

The Chere Couloir, just a short approach from the hut.

Carpet, firewood, bedding, posters, and of course more climbing books. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)

The 'dacks are ready for rock climbing. Just out of sight there is a party on Pitchoff. I went bouldering today.

Today was Whiteface's final day. Lucy logged 35 days on snow (70% Nordic) and I logged 65 days (80% Nordic). However, despite good bac...

Hock in his Brooks Brothers polo shirt and khakis, climbing the 5.7+ "Unexpected" in his mountain boots. The crag on the backside ...

Well I don't drop the knee as deeply as I used too, and I certainly do not do a lead change as quickly, however I still manage to ski th...

Gary cruising up the 1200' North face of Gothics a couple of weeks ago. This thinly iced, 45-50 degree face, is one of the premier wint...

After riding the lift for a third day in a row, I finished by skinning up 1000' to the vicinity of Catherine's Pass near East Castl...

The skiing at Alta has been fantastic ... 21 inches of new powder in the first two days! In the picture are two Fossil Friends - Susie and ...

Almost 30 years ago we made a plan to climb the south ridge of Mount Superior (skyline). Michael was to come and get me at 4 AM, the only ...