Climbing with the Cornell Outing Club

Climbing has always been one of our most active areas in the club -- the difficulty of course is that there is no good local rock! There is good local ice, but most of it is on public land and it is currently (2006) illegal to climb. We're working on that.

As a result, we primarily rock climb in the Adirondacks^?, the Shawangunks^?, and at a more local spot in the town of Little Falls^?. Sometimes we also make longer trips, often over Fall Break, to Rumney^? in New Hampshire. It seems also that many years a spring break climbing trip goes south to Red River Gorge^? in Kentucky. We're lucky in that though these destinations aren't exactly close, the 'Dacks and 'Gunks and Rumney are some of the great rock climbing locations in the country, and provide plenty of options for climbs short or long, easy or difficult, single pitch or multipitch, sport or trad.

We also ice climb regularly during the winters, most notably at our primary beginner spot Tinker's Falls^? (40 minutes drive), and at Salmon River Gorge^? (two hours) and in the Adirondacks^? (4.5 hours). Most winters, these areas create great ice.

In town, club members actively climb other things, frequently trees^? and artificial walls^?. It is even whispered that quite a few buildings in Ithaca offer great "buildering" potential, but this should never be done without permission from property owners.

Gear Use

We highly encourage all COC members to initiate and/or organize a climbing trip. Nevertheless, the necessity of using special climbing gear for the protection of rock and ice climbs requires some knowledge of gear use and rope handling. For a list of available equipment see our complete list of climbing gear. One goal of our Intro level climbing trips is to educate interested COC members in the use of climbing gear and bring them to a level of competency to lead climbing trips on their own. As a climbing trip leader you have to be a Restricted gear user approved by the Outing club to check out the climbing equipment listed in the Restricted Use Gear list.

Restricted Use Gear

The gear listed below is either potentially hazardous if misused, or potentially irrevocably damaged if misused. As such, the items below may only be checked out to the listed individuals who are approved by the Outing Club to use them. Approval requires that a candidate climb with at least two approved club members and be certified by both as proficient in the proper and safe use of gear and showing appropriate leadership in demonstrating its use to others.

Approved Users of Restricted Gear

To be added to this list, contact the Climbing Chair (RaykoHalitschke)

Duties of the Climbing Chair

• Make checks of critical equipment such as ropes and harnesses, and destroy equipment when needed
• Maintain standards and criteria for safe climbing and development of climbing leadership
• Promote and organize climbing trips
• Approve users of restricted gear

Miscellaneous climbing related topics

• Local Climbers Color Codes for Gear ID
• CocClimbingInventory