Showing posts with label Mooney Mountain Guides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mooney Mountain Guides. Show all posts

Monday, April 27, 2015

Mammut North America - a company of climbers, skiers, and mountain athletes.

Our team of mountain climbers on top of the wind scoured summit of Mt Monroe 5372 ft.
 The Mammut Athlete team has been charging ahead with expeditions, rock - ice climbs, ultra trail runs, and ski adventures while quietly back in Vermont the Mammut management, sales, and distribution employees run the core business of this top of the line outdoor company.

This past weekend was the time for an in-house adventure. The Mammut staff came to NH for a ski and mountain climb on Mt Washington in the White Mountains.  MMG Guides Alex, Erik and I met the Mammut team at the AMC Highland Center Lodge on Friday afternoon for an evening of drinks, dinner and social activities.  Saturday morning we all awoke at dawn, ate a healthy breakfast and headed into the wilds of the mountains. 

Monday, June 9, 2014

Sardinia Explored - Limestone Delight!

May in NH? This year it was the right time to travel - escape of mud season, black flies, and showers. Sardinia had always been on my list for a climbing trip/ travel vacation. I made the flights plans well in advance booking the tickets with United Airlines using frequent flyer miles. This flight was quite easy with a overnight flight to Milan then a short 1 hour flight to Sardinia. Terry and I  arrived on the island at the Olbia airport in mid afternoon with bright sunshine and temps at 27C.
Soon enough we were at the crags - working the limestone routes. We concentrated our climbing to the southern areas around the town of Baunei. This area was a less traveled/climbed area. The limestone rock was very solid, not polished, and we had most areas to ourselves

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Polar Vortex brings on a Phat Ice Climbing Season.

You may have heard about the Polar Vortex.  

What is it exactly? The polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale cyclone located near Baffin Islands which pumps cold arctic air down into the central and northeastern sections of Canada and the US. To many this weather pattern is only a nuisance with the extreme cold mornings, long term icy roads and walkways, and transportation delays. To the ice climber and winter mountaineer the polar vortex is welcomed.

Winters in the northeast can be fickle and the ice climbs come in and out of shape. This leaves climbers guessing at the weekends route or activity. This season Phat Ice climbs are abundant  - no guessing needed - but a hearty New England attitude has been a must. To be out for the day in extreme cold you must be equipped with the right gear and clothing. Mammut comes into play right here - as the finest supplier of ice climbing and mountaineering clothing and products.

Now we are in mid march and ice and winter climbing interests can be waning for some - for the other full on addicts fantastic ice conditions can be found in many areas for some time to come. Enjoy!!!

Emmett taking on a serious look - this is ice climbing!!!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

A Few of My Favorite Things: Granite, Cracks and Innovative Gear

After the second wettest June since records started being kept in 1895, the weather has finally started drying out in the East. That means FULL days of climbing again- not squeezing in as much as possible between storms and downpours! I returned to Cannon Cliff in NH to climb Vertigo, a climb I had been rained off of about 5 years ago. This route is a classic, full of history! As Mark Synnott put it in an article for Climbing Magazine, "Vertigo climbs a 400-foot granite buttress reminiscent of Yosemite or Squamish."

First Ascent:-July/1971. Mike Peloquin starting the Half Moon Crack belayed by John Bragg. Photo Paul Ross from mountainproject.com


Monday, July 15, 2013

Meet Up at Mammut - Technical Training

This past winter while attending the Mt. Washington Valley Ice Festival, Andrea Charest, Alden Pellet and I brought up the idea of proposing a get together/technical training to Gribbin, the Mammut Sports Group marketing manager. He implemented the idea and on June 18th we met in Vermont at the Mammut office and headed to the crag with Vermont and New Hampshire guide services, local equipment suppliers and the Mammut folks. 

MMG guide Erik rope gunning to the top!!!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Mammut - The Brand - Marketing!

Gribbin - Mammuts (Marketing Manager) and I spent Monday getting together in New Hampshire. Our business meeting was focused primarily on Mammut, the Brand, and future marketing ideas. 

First off we went outside to refresh the mind by climbing some steep ice. Frankenstein was in fantastic shape, the warm temps softened the ice up to a plastic consistency and being Monday we had the entire place to ourselves.    

Gribbin topping out on the Hobbit. 

Mammut products - 9.5 Swiss Rope - along with the Nordwand Glove. 

Mammut Logo
Mastodons are an extinct group of mammal species related to elephants, that inhabited North and Central America during the late Miocene or late Pliocene up to their extinction at the end of the Pleistocene 12,000 years ago. Their genus name is Mammut and they are members of the order Proboscidea. They lived in herds like the living elephants, unlike them, however, mastodons were predominantly forest dwelling animals that fed on a mixed diet of browsing and grazing with a seasonal preference for browsing, in contrast to living elephants that are mostly grazing animals.


 The dropped knee helps manage the crux on the Hobbit. 

Chia Direct was in fine condition.

Chia Direct  - a steep and inviting pillar! 

The Mammut Company

Mammut Sports Group AG  is a Swiss producer of mountaineering and trekking equipment with headquarters in Seon, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1862 by Kaspar Tanner in Dintikon. Today, Mammut belongs to Conzzeta AG. Amongst others, Raichle (mountain and trekking shoes), Ajungilak (sleeping bags) belong to Mammut Sports Group.


 The exit moves on upper Chia.

Mammut Smart Device - smooth running direct belay.

Mammut Smart - great tool for a lead, direct or top rope belay.

 Marketing

  Mooney Mountain Guides with potential Mammut customers. Throughout the climbing day its these folks who view and use many Mammut products.

Great meeting and day on the ice with Gribbin.

Art Mooney
AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Gear Review - Ice and Alpine Products!

 For over 7 years I have been actively using Mammut equipment and clothing. These products are put to the test - day upon day of climbing and guiding work in all seasons. Its difficult to choose just a few of the Mammut Alpine products that truly stand apart.  

The home turf - Mt Washington and the Presidential Range.
Home to the worlds worst weather - data from this past week minus 16 and 128 mph winds.

Mammut Ropes - 7.5 Twilight Twin ropes  a favorite combo of mine for any high end multi pitch route with one other climber. Lightweight, very strong, ease of full rappels, meets standards for half and twin ropes.  

Nordwand TL Boot - this is the boot I have been searching for. For quite a while I have used the Mamook GTX and Mamook Thermo. They are great boots but not warm enough for my use in the heart of the winter season. These Nordwand TL Boots do the trick, warm - yes, easy to take on and off - yes, extremely lightweight - yes. I have used these fantastic boots both for ice climbs and mountain ascents.

The Mamook GTX Boot in action - also lightweight and very good fit. 

 Mammut Ropes Serenity 8.9 - this is another favorite choice for single ropes on the steep ice routes where 70 meters get me to the belays or on the ground. Excellent smooth working rope, easy for belays, very light for a 70 meter. 

All Mammut packs stand out and have held up very well. 
This Neon Light Pack is the one I use when I am on the sharp end of a difficult route. 
Enough room to carry just what I need on a cold day - Belay Jacket, Mitts, First Aid, Thermos 

Mooney Mountain Guides - totally psyched on their MMG Embroidered Mammut Ultimate Hoody Jackets.

Cannon - The Black Dike Route - Laser Jacket, Spindrift Guide Pack, Mamook Thermo Boots,
Nordwand Gloves, Twilight Ropes all make for an awesome package of equipment and clothing.

Lake Willoughby - Vermont's
The Northeast Kingdoms High End Ice Area.

I am very fortunate to be one of the Mammut Athlete/Guide team members and look forward to another 2013 season with the team.

Thank You Mammut

Art Mooney
AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide 


Monday, February 11, 2013

Mountains and Ice - The Heart of the Season!!!

Its the winter season with January and February being the busiest months for myself (Art Mooney) and the guides at Mooney Mountain Guides. Its the season of cold - windy Mt Washington ascents and the season of guided ice climbs on wild and varied routes. Personally I feel very fortunate to be a NH guide in winter - its an absolutely fantastic job. As time passes I am continually sharing my enthusiasm and passion for climbing with new and repeating guests from all over the US and world. 

The listed photos are from guiding days during the past three weeks of work. The photos begin with the MMG guide training, then a Mt Washington ascent, onto the NH Mt Washington Valley Ice Festival, continues to the AMGA Ice Instructor Course, and ends with photos of private guide days with Mooney Mountain Guides.

Guide training day - preparing for the busy season ahead!

Mt Washington is a wild place - keeping warm and dry in the wild winds and subzero temps is a constant battle for all during our climbs.

In sync during the summit push.

The summit - all are excited and relieved to be on the top of NH highest peak.

Pippa getting started icing in NH at the Mount Washington Ice Festival.

The ice festival - a happy group after a day on the ice

Alden and Andrea working the Mammut Table at the Mt Washington Valley Ice festival.

The ice festival - intro to ice climbing for rock climbers.

Ice festival again -ice and  mixed climbing at Frankenstein.

AMGA - the Ice Instructor Course.

Mammut ambassador Andrea Charest guiding us up the Chia Pillar - AMGA IIC Course. 

AMGA course again - bluebird day on Mt Willard.

Mooney Mountain Guides - getting prepared to go ice climbing during the 2013 blizzard called Nemo. 

Plenty of water - ice is building fast!

Its all about fun - another great day in the mountains.

Visting climbers enjoyed a two day intro on the ice.

As you can see mountain guiding is a fantastic job. 

Thanks to Mammut, the AMGA, and folks at the IMCS Ice Festival for the opportunity to take people out in the mountains and on the ice.

Art Mooney
AMGA/IFMGA Mountain Guide 






Monday, June 4, 2012

Rainbow Wall - Mammut Peaks Project Climb

JD and I spent the past few days climbing on the Rainbow Wall. We were one of the US teams selected for Mammut's 150 Peaks Anniversary project. Originally the climb was to be the Nose Route  of El Capitan but the team had to change the location to the Rainbow Wall in Red Rocks. 

We arrived in the Las Vegas area last Thursday just in time for the areas first heat wave. We were ready for hot weather but not for 105 to 110 degrees. This extreme heat was a major concern for the two of us. Our plans were to spend two days on the wall. We decided to adjust our plans and climb when the route was shaded (12pm to 8pm) and then descend as the wall heated up the following morning. This plan worked well as we climbed over half of the route in reasonable temps to our bivi area. It was a treat to be high up and able to rest, refuel and recover high up on the wall. The following morning as the sun started baking the wall we made the decision to descend and escape the unrelenting sun and heat. 

Enjoy the photos of our Rainbow Wall climb.   

JD's first sight of the canyons and walls in Red Rocks.
  
Prepped with Mammut packs, ropes, and technical equipment.

Rainbow Wall up high right of center.

Art loaded down for the start of the long approach from Pine Creek.

We were amazed to see this cacti bloom in the scorching desert heat.

The approach steepens into Juniper Canyon.

The final slabs approach to the base of the route.

JD cruising in style on the Rainbow Wall.

I was given the opportunity to climb with Art Mooney of Mooney Mountain Guides thanks to Mammut and their 150 peaks project. Learning more about big wall processes and getting to experience climbing in such an amazing place was just awesome! The heat of the desert was brutal but made getting into the shade very rewarding. Climbing with Art was a fun and educational experience. Learning how to improve systems, refine rope work, and just enjoying being up on the wall. Good team work and communication is always important for a climbing team and made our climb more successful. Art's commitment to safety and to drive forward inspired me to keep pushing myself and trust my climbing partner when he needed me to get past a challenge.

After seeing the lights of Vegas and waking up on a ledge after an amazing day of climbing; I felt inspired to keep climbing an wasn't ready to head down.

It was an amazing experience and I am very greatful to have been selected for this opportunity. Mammut, you guys rock! Thank you so much for everything. Art, I'm still amazed by some of the moves you pulled off in aproach shoes! Thank you for everything and I look forward to climbing with Art and Mooney Mountain Guides in the future!

JD


Steep climbing ended with hanging belays. 

View from our bivi site on Rainbow Wall.

JD getting a break after a long day. 

We were treated to the Las Vegas light show. 

JD and I enjoying our bivi area.

The rising big ball of fire - starting to heat up.

JD descending the clean dihedral on the middle pitches.

Desert wear - no points for fashion but the wet bandana kept the body much cooler. 

JD and I back at the car in the early afternoon.

Thanks to Mammut for this amazing experience. JD and I enjoyed meeting and climbing together and are making plans for another climb soon!

Art Mooney
IFMGA Mountain Guide