Join PATC-MS for a weekend of climbing at the Gunks! Experience setting fixed or natural anchors is preferred for this trip. Bring gear and static line for top rope anchors if you have it. This is not an instructional event – see the Rock and Snow guide services page if you would like to hire a guide. Please note that this is not a guided event and none of our trip leaders are professional guides. You will be climbing on ropes set up by members of the club who are hobby climbers and not professionals. Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport and you do so at your own risk. You are responsible for yourself and your own safety at all times. 

The trip leader for this event will be driving from DC on Sunday afternoon, arriving late on Sunday night, climbing all day Monday, and driving back early on Tuesday morning. If others prefer a different schedule, they can make their own arrangements. Please utilize the (optional) group spreadsheet to coordinate carpooling and camping.

We’re staying at the American Alpine Club (AAC) campground:

Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground
953 Route 299
Gardiner, NY 12525
(303) 951-4571
https://americanalpineclub.org/gunks-campground

Campsites are $38/site/night, or $24/site/night with the AAC member discount (Leo is a member and can book sites with the member discount). IMPORTANT: tent space is limited to one 12’x12’ pad (one family size tent or two backpacking tents) and a maximum of 4 people. The club is not renting out campsites for this event, so please make your own arrangements; use the (optional) spreadsheet if you are interested in sharing a campsite.

There are coin-operated showers ($1 for 4 minutes), WiFi at the pavilion (name: Gunks Campground, no password), and a communal fire pit (firewood provided).

If you don’t want to stay at the AAC campground, there are a number of hotels in the area.

Climbing

We will be top rope climbing at the Peterskill area in the Minnewaska State Park, a 5-10 minute drive down the road from the campsite. There is a $10/vehicle/day vehicle entry fee and a $10/climber/day climbing permit fee. Each climber must fill out a waiver. IMPORTANT: The park has a limit of 100 climbers per day, so it is best to get there when they open at 9 AM.

Anchors: some (but not all) climbs have a pair of bolts and rings which can be used to build anchors. IMPORTANT: you may not tie anchors to pitch pine trees. Other tree species are OK if the bark is protected from abrasion.

Guidebooks

 Note that the Peterskill area is NOT contained in Wolverine’s $50 Gunks Climbing. For printed guidebooks to Peterskill, stop by this shop in the nearby town of New Paltz, NY:

Rock and Snow
44 Main Street
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 255-1311
https://www.rockandsnow.com/

Other activities

Pack a swimsuit: Minnewaska State Park features the fabulous Lake Minnewaska with its swimming beach. There are also numerous hikes.

Cancellation

To cancel your reservation, go back to the event page scroll down to the RSVP portion. Click the red “view your RSVP” text and it will take you to another page where you can change your RSVP from “going” to “not going”.