Yes, the crowds were out at the Gunks. I was feeling low key and willing to meander up easy stuff and Todd had a finger injury, so for once he wasn’t vehemently opposed to easier routes, but climbing easy was out of the question. They were stacked three parties deep on some of the classics.

It was the first fully nice weekend of Spring, always a crowded day, but we suspected there must be more to it than that. AMC New Seconds weekend or something. “It’s like the beach,” Todd kept saying as we’d come around a corner and see another sprawl of humanity: belayers, spectators, loungers, not to mention dogs, babies–never have I seen so many babies at the Gunks–and veritable picnic lunches.

I suppose this is the sort of day people mean when they complain about how crowded the Gunks are. But from now on I’m going to look at people making those complaints as part of the crowd. This was non-normal. If you thought that was a normal day at the Gunks, then you’re only showing up on the days when everyone else shows up too.

As for the climbing, it was good. Fortunately we have enough high-end moderate favorites that we can still climb “easy” even on a day this crowded. Strictly was unexpectedly open and Todd linked both pitches, something we’d never tried before but was very enjoyable and worth a repeat.

Jean, 5.9 (Todd)
Bloody Mary P1, 5.6+ (Dawn)
Size Matters, 10c (Todd)
Pink Laurel P1, 5.9 (Dawn)
Strictly from Nowhere, 5.7+ (P1 & 2: Todd)
Birdie Party P1, 5.8 (Dawn)