The trip with Ascent was an amazing experience that will surely change my life forever. From sitting around at 5000 feet waiting out the weather, to crossing a see-through bridge with crampons, the trip let me and my dad see and do things that most people will never do. It was amazing.

Patrick, Mountaineering and Ice Climbing Course Participant

Cascade Pass:

Mt. Buckner 9,080’ (North Face or North Face Couloir)

Grade III, 40 to 50 degree snow and ice.  2-3 days round trip.

Shark Fin Tower 8,120’ (Southeast Ridge)

Grade II, 5.0, 30 degree snow, Glacier Travel.  2 days

Forbidden Peak 8,815’ (West Ridge)

Grade II-III, 5.6, 50 Degree snow. 2-3 days

Sahale Peak 8,680’  (Southeast Ridge)

Grade II, 3rd-4th Class rock; steep glacier, exposed snow. 1-2 days round trip.

Johannesberg Mountain 8,200’  (Northeast Buttress West Rib Variation)

Grade V, Mid-fifth class; snow and ice to 40 degrees.  1-2 days (experienced climbers only)

Eldorado Peak  8,868’  (East Ridge)

Grade II, Exposed 35 degree snow.  1-3 days.

Sahale 8,680’  (Quien Sabe Glacier)

Grade II, 3-4 class rock, steep glacier, exposed snow.

Washington / Rainy Pass:

Liberty Bell 7,720’  (Beckey Route)

Grade II, 5.7 Rock, 5-8 hrs.

South Early Winters Spire 7,807’  (South Arête)

Grade II, 5.4 5-8 hrs.

Black Peak 8,970’ (South Ridge)

Grade II+, Class 4 Rock, 30 Degree Snow, 1-2 Days.

Cutthroat Peak 8,050’  (South Buttress)

Grade III+, 5.8 6-10hrs.

Leavenworth

Ingalls Peak 7,662’  (South Ridge)

Grade II 5.4 4-8hrs. (East Ridge) Grade II, 5.7 4-8hrs.

Colchuck Peak 8,705’  (North Buttress Couloir)

Grade III, 3rd & 4th class rock, 30 to 50 snow and ice.  1-2 Days.

Mt. Temple 8,292’  (Temple Ridge)

Grade II+, 5.6.  1-2 Days.

Return to the Alpine Climbing Experience Package Page

Today I read an article on UsaToday.com about the importance of “playing” during these difficult and stressful financial times. The author, Janice Lloyd, spends time reviewing Stuart Brown’s new book Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul. ( See the article here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-23-play-stress_N.htm)

Stuart Brown is a proponent of making sure that everyone, adults especially, take time to “play” and do things that are enjoyable and invigorating for them. Without doing this, it doesn’t just lead to boredom, but rather depression and discontentment.

Getting away from cell phones and computers and enjoying the outdoors is the best way to do this. Of course, leisure activities such as video game playing is still relaxing, but until you take action to get away from all things that can distract you, you won’t truly be refreshed.

I often find that when I get away from all the daily responsibilities and demands of running my company, I come back with a renewed vision and determination for Ascent Adventure Consultants success. Often, it can be easy to think, “There’s no way that I can get away….I will miss opportunities.” However, the opposite is true. If you don’t get away every once in a while, you will miss opportunities because you will get burnt out and discouraged.

This coincides with some of the postings we have done last year: Escaping the Normal Routine of Life

Visit our website today to: Take time to play and enjoy life! We only get one life…so make the most of it! Climb some cliffs, hike some mountains, or whatever else you may enjoy!

This is amazing: 5.14a Trad Route

I would love to know how he mentally trained to climb this. Too bad there isn’t climbing like this in North Carolina!

I found a great website…www.yogatoday.com.

The people that run the site and the blog are rock climbers and avid outdoor enthusiasts. The blog can be found here:

http://www.yogatoday.com/blog/

I have started doing Yoga daily and have watched my balance on the rock dramatically increase, as well as my core strength and flexibility. Go to their site, click “Watch Classes” and there is a class you can watch called Yoga for Rock Climbers. Enjoy! I know that I did! I would love to hear about the results you see from doing yoga…comment below!

Here is a great testimonial from the Mount Washington 09 Trip

Thanks for everything. It was an amazing experience that will surely change my life forever. The trip let me and my dad see and do things that most people will never do. It was amazing. 

Thanks a Ton!

Patrick Begley

Patrick Begley

The Mount Washington Winter Ascent was a huge success this year (Check out the pictures on our website’s photo page, Flickr Page, Videos on our YouTube Page, and more pictures on our Facebook Page). We had 6 people attend the trip, which was the biggest group we have had so far! Upon arriving in North Conway, the group instantly clicked and I could tell that they were going to have an amazing time together. The feeling was correct! The entire trip, they encouraged each other, motivated each other, and helped each other accomplish the goals set before them of climbing and summitting Mount Washington.

We began the approach to Mount Washington at Pinkham Notch  early Friday morning, at 6:00am. Apparently, it was the coldest and windiest day they had all year on the Mountain. -5 Farenheit, with 80 MPH gusts at the summit. It made it about a -40 degree windchill! We broke trail that day…no one else was in front of us. After a few hours of hiking and climbing, we passed tree line, where the wind slammed us and made conditions almost impassable. The group was actively checking in on each other, making sure that everyone was feeling ok and staying warm. We had an emergency and had to go back down, and most likely wouldn’t have made the summit that day anyways due to the forecast calling for worse weather later in the day. When we returned to Pinkham Notch Lodge, we saw the weather report for Saturday was for partly cloudy skies and slightly warmer weather.

Saturday morning we woke up at 4:00am and headed out to Mount Washington. What a beautiful day! According to the weather observatory, it was “an unusually glorious day” on Mount Washington. Here is a picture so you can see what I mean:

We have a YouTube Page!

YouTube – ascentadventure’s Channel.