Gearing Up for the Gunks

Ever since I started rock climbing, I've come across many articles & have heard people talking about "The Gunks".  From what I've heard and read, this is the destination for serious trad climbers in the East.  "Tough, old school ratings" & many "classic routes" are the buzz words I've seen and heard.  Even my most recent internet date asked me within our first few email messages if I had been to the Gunks yet?  Well, no...  But, I plan to!

Without a partner, I had looked into guided trips earlier this year & came across an REI camping weekend for June 14th-16th.  It wasn't a trad trip though - more of a group top-roping trip.  I didn't book it because if I was going to spend $600 on a solo climbing weekend, I wanted to get trad instruction.  So, when I saw a Meetup group posted a couple of weeks ago for the same weekend pairing up experienced trad leaders with experienced followers, I jumped on it.  I didn't know the host, or even anyone who had signed up already, but this didn't stop me.  I wasn't sure if my experience was going to be enough to make the cut (the trip was capped at 10 people & you had to fill out a questionnaire about your experience).  But, a week after signing up, I received an email from the host that I was in!  Bonus: one of my climbing friends (also a trad beginner) had signed up for the trip & had been accepted as well.

I was so excited... I couldn't sleep that night!  I spent most of the night on the internet buying gear.  First order of business was guidebooks.  Our host strongly felt that we should all have books for the trip, so I found the recommended titles and checked those off of my list.  Next order of business was camping gear.  I was seriously lacking in this category.  I found a tent (Marmot Limelight 3) & a camping stove (Jet Boil Flash) after pouring through many reviews and options.  I already owned a sleeping bag & pad, but ended up upgrading the pad I owned to something thicker & more comfortable (REI Camp Bed 3.5).  I also bought a couple more cams to complete my double rack.  All in all, I spent almost the same amount that I would have spent on the REI trip, but now I have some sweet new gear to show for it.  Oh, and I purchased my last critical piece of gear tonight: a portable iPhone 5 charger from Amazon.  I think I would have a legit meltdown if my battery died on this trip!