It’s that sort of day. Between ourselves, Todd and I have agreed not to even bother driving up to the Gunks on days like this. We know what we’ll find. It used to surprise me, then frustrate me. Now it’s simply accepted: on foggy days there will be an extra band of mist that trails along the cliffs, leaving every inch of rock lightly coated with water.

But today we’re supposed to meet Peter, who’s coming all the way from Nova Scotia. Well, not this morning. This morning he’s coming from Danbury, but he only has two days to climb at the Gunks. He won’t know about the fog-slimed rock, wouldn’t understand it if we tried to explain it, and probably wouldn’t care if he did.

We don’t expect to climb anything.

We park in the one-hour overlook lot (see above). As we’re hiking up the trail to the Uberfall we hear the unmistakable clink of trad gear. Sure enough, there’s a lone, tall figure walking down the carriage trail. I’ve only seen Peter in pictures but there can’t be more than three of use here today so it’s worth a try.

“Peter?” I call up. The figure stops. We’re met.

Todd, me, and Peter on a foggy day at the Gunks

Somehow we’re climbing. OK, honestly, I epxected it (see above). Somehow I’m leading. What else can we do? It would be uncharitable to send someone new to the area up in these conditions and Todd’s still nursing the finger injury that led to the premature cancellation of my leading hiatus. So, I’m leading.

I rack up for Rhododendron (5.6) and move steadily up to the crux, which is funny because before today I didn’t know that Rhododendron had a crux. I’m not liking the move at all and am getting tired trying to find a stance. Finally I hang on my gear, pull through the move just high enough to place another piece, and then immediately hang on that. One move later and I’m through all the hard stuff and cruising to the top.

It’s not exactly a triumph (Peter has probably been wondering just how long leading a short 5.6 can take) but I made it safely up and back down again, so who cares? A bit of downclimbing and traversing has allowed me to set up Laurel (5.7) as well, so we have hours of entertainment for me, Peter, Jason, his partner from yesterday who’s just shown up, and Helen, who we don’t know but who was moping around because her guide cancelled on her.

Peter on Laurel (5.7)

Eventually everyone has tried everything and we pull our ropes. Peter is itching to do some real Gunks climbing, i.e. multi-pitch. I’m a long way from wanting to sit on a damp belay ledge but Jason’s arrival has saved us all. Peter and Jason trot off to do Easy Overhang (5.2) in the mist. Todd and I head for the bar. And Helen? Hopefully her guide showed up the next weekend.

Peter looking down at Jason on the second pitch of Easy O (5.2)