Hans Florine in NYC

Yosemite speed-climbing legend Hans Florine is coming to New York City next weekend, November 11-13, bringing some West Coast, big-wall style to the city. We have events for everyone!

EXERCISES FOR CLIMBING with Hans Florine

Date: Friday, November 11, 6:30 - 7:30PM
Where: The Cliffs LIC
$10, Free for AAC Dinner attendees


GET YOUR TICKET NOW!

Cross train with Hans in his unique style that blends Yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, TRX, core blasters + more! All proceeds will be donated to the American Alpine Club. Free for AAC Dinner attendees (see Dinner registration for details).

DINNER REGISTRATION

ON THE NOSE PRESENTATION + BOOK SIGNING

Date: Friday, November 11, 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Where: The Cliffs LIC
Free (registration required)

REGISTER HERE!  

Metro NY Section, 36th Annual Dinner

Date: Saturday, November 12, 5:30 - 10pm
Where: Union Club
Featuring: Keynote by Hans Florine

GET YOUR TICKET NOW!
 

Metro NY Section Annual Dinner Registration Opens

Metro NY Section, 36th Annual Dinner

Online registration is now open!

When: Saturday, November 12, 2016
Where: Union Club, 101 East 69 Street at Park Avenue, NYC

Featuring:
Keynote by Hans Florine
Wine and Beer Open Bar
Silent and Live Auctions
New Member Inductions

For the first time:
Climbers' Gathering at The Cliffs, LIC
Friday, November 11, 2016
 
 
GET YOUR TICKET NOW!


Yosemite great, Hans Florine will join us to share stories of his climbing adventures. Hans knows speed. He has repeatedly set and broken one of the most coveted speed records in the world: The Nose of El Cap. Opening presenter, Naz Ahmed, 2014 Live Your Dream Grant recipient recently returned from helping Afghan women do something never done before — climb mountains.

Proceeds this year benefit the AAC Northeast Live Your Dream Grant Fund.

Tickets sellout, so reserve early for this not-to-be-missed event!

New dress code for 2016, black tie or suit & tie. New members attending for the first time will receive their membership pin (please indicate when purchasing tickets).

We have a limited number of comp seats for those wishing to attend the Dinner and work as AAC volunteers. Please contact newyork@americanalpineclub.org if interested.

Hope to see you there!
     - Howard Sebold
       Metro NY Section Chair

Metro NY Section and The North Face Team Up for Summit Series Launch Party

 

TNF Summit Series Launch Party with American Alpine Club

Monday, Oct. 24 from 6 PM - 8 PM

The North Face

2101 Broadway, New York, New York 10023

Come join the Metro NY Section, AAC and The North Face for the launch of TNF Fall 2016 Summit Series line. 

 

At 6 pm, Metro NY Section Chair Howard Sebold will give an overview of the American Alpine Club and detail some of the amazing spots for climbing in the Northeast. Then AAC Member Vanessa O’Brien, the first woman to set a speed record to complete the Explorers Grand Slam (Seven Summits plus skiing the last degree to the North and South Poles) in 11 months, will talk about her recent expedition to K2 and other high alpine adventures.

 

Following that, Stan Kosmider, Senior Field Representative for The North Face, will go through the Summit Series line and describe the new innovative gear that makes up the full range of products.

 

At the end of the night, we will have a Q&A and raffle off some North Face gear. 

Refreshments will be provided by Bronx Brewery. Light snacks also served.

Metro NY Annual Dinner Save-The-Date

Save-the-date for our biggest social gathering of the year! Registration opens in October and sells out fast. See you there!

Mohonk Preserve To Honor Jimmy Chin - AAC Discount Tickets Available

Come out September 28th to support the Gunks and Mohonk Preserve as they honor internationally renowned climber, mountaineer, skier, and award-winning photographer-filmmaker Jimmy Chin at The Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park. 

This evening with Jimmy is going to be a terrific event especially if you're a Gunks climber.  Jimmy has some spectacular not to be missed climbing footage. 


The event is an opportunity for AAC members to support our home crag and gain greater insight into the work the Preserve does. The Gunks climbing Rangers are recognized nationally for their high angle rescue capabilities.

The Preserve with the support of a generous sponsor has a limited number of half-price tickets available only to NY Section members. These are offered on a first come basis, Email the Section Chair, newyork@americanalpineclub.org for more info.


I hope to see some of you there. 

The Swiss Machine at Symphony Space

Photo: AAC member Sam Spaeth

Sunday was another hot sweltering day here in NYC, but those not at the beach, lake or woods had the chance to cool off with Ueli Steck as he recounted his latest adventure of summiting all 82 peaks in the Alps over 4,000 meters in just 62 days.

The AAC partnered with Alpina Watches to bring the legendary speed climber to NYC where he  started his North American speaking tour. Ueli is  best known for his record shattering speed ascent of the Eiger and in 2014 he received the Piolet d'Or for climbing Annapurna’s South Face in just 28 hours. During the talk Ueli recounted how post Annapurna and approaching his 40th birthday he wanted to take a step back and find a challenge on a project which was not about going harder or faster. He wanted to do something at home in the Alps and the 82 peak challenge was something that few had succeeded on. See Forbes contributor Jim Clash's great coverage of the event and interview with Ueli for more details.

The evening drew a good crowd as Great Range Fellows, volunteers and AAC staff enjoyed pre-event cocktails and snacks at Bar Thalia. Member Mark Aiston walked away with the raffle grand-prize of a new Alpina smart watch. The tour continues over the next few weeks check out the schedule for more info.

Ueli Steck is coming to New York City August 28th!

Save $5 on tickets now through midnight on Saturday.
Just enter the code "UELI5" at checkout.

This is a rare opportunity to see the Swiss Machine in the States — a show you don't want to miss!

TICKETS + INFO

*Discount applies to regular show tickets. Does not apply to VIP Gathering tickets.



Tour presented by Alpina Watches, innovative time pieces from Switzerland.

Vic Benes and Ron Bixby on the Summit of Eldorado Peak

Vic Benes and Ron Bixby on July 15, 2016, in white-out at knife-edge summit of Eldorado Peak, 8868’, in the North Cascades. Photo credit:Jon Krefeld, Alpine Endeavors.

METRO NY SECTION, AUSABLE CLUB OUTING

Friday, June 10 - Sunday, June 12
Ausable Club, Adirondacks, NY

A spring Section tradition, the annual Adirondack Outing at the exclusive Ausable Club near Keene Valley is not to be missed. Activities include: rock climbing (backcountry routes or cragging), hiking in the adjacent High Peaks, swimming and boating on the private Ausable Lakes or golf, tennis and lawn bowls on the property. This also happens to be the weekend of the 12th Annual Great Adirondack Trail Run for those so inclined. Available spots for the weekend are limited. Please email the Metro NY Section Chair if interested.

Now is your chance to climb with the Sherpa's and support Nepal

Join the Metro NY Section as we partner with the US Nepal Climbers Association (USNCA) as they host Everest Day,  Sunday May 29, 3-6 p.m. at The Cliffs, Long Island City.

This casual friendly climbing competition is open to all, has prizes for every competitor who enters and all proceeds will be used to support Nepalis still recovering from the devasting earthquake last year. Thousands of dollars in prizes, from cash to climbing gear will be awarded. Adult fees are $48.24 and youth fees are $21.99 for the comp. To register click HERE. Come by to climb, compete, spectate ($5 donation requested) and support this worthy cause.   

We look forward to seeing you there.

Howard Sebold

Metro NY Section Chair 

New AAC Institutional Partner - US Nepal Cilmbers Association

Members of the US Nepal Climbers Association with AAC Metro NY Section Chair Howard Sebold & AAC member Vanessa O'Brien 

I am pleased to announce a new partnership between the AAC and the US Nepal Climbers Association (USNCA). NYC based members of the Nepalese climbing community founded the Not-For-Profit organization in 2013. The USNCA works to promote the growth and protection of mountaineering and climbing worldwide, advance safe and ethical mountain practices and promote responsible access, culture and environmental protection.

AAC member Vanessa O'Brien and I meet with the USNCA Board and Committee members earlier this week in Queens to celebrate our new partnership and discuss plans for Everest Day, May 29, 2016. We shared a meal and good conversation with our new friends. It was inspiring to be with such an accomplished group of climbers. I have attended many gatherings, but never before have I been in the presence of this many people who have stood atop Mt. Everest, as well as many of the world’s other 8000m peaks. Vanessa and I were both deeply moved to be named as honorary Advisors of USNCA. 

Please mark your calendars for Everest Day at The Cliffs, LIC.  Details below.

CLIMBING COMPETITION ON EVEREST DAY MAY 29TH, 2016
US Nepal Climbers Association Inc. in collaboration with The Cliffs Climbing Gym and Heartbeat NYC will be hosting a special climbing competition on may 29th in celebration of Everest Day. This event is to not only remember the historic summit, but also raise awareness and funds for schools and those families still affected by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

Howard Sebold
AAC, Metro NY Section Chair

Members of the USNCA executive team, Serap Sherpa (foreground right) President USNCA.

Banff Mountain Film Festival Coming To NYC

Join the Metro NY Section at the Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95^th, 7:30 pm, Sunday, February 28; Monday, February 29; Tuesday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016.  Doors open at 7:00 pm. We will have an info table set up. Come by and say hello. 

Tickets are available at Symphony Space, 212.864.540 and Paragon Sports. 212.255.8036, ext 2.

Howard Sebold 

- Metro NY Section Chair



Nepal, the Earthquake & Craft Beer - Member Steve Hindy Reports

Ellen and Steve Hindy in Ghorpani, Nepal, at Annapurna South.

In January 2015 Steve Hindy won a 2 week trip to Nepal at the Annual Dinner. As founder of Brooklyn Brewery Steve has a passion for beer. See his report for Vice Media, munchies.vice.com about his trip and the growing craft beer industry in Nepal.


Howard Sebold
Metro NY Section Chair

Tickets Still Available For The Annual Benefit Dinner Weekend

February 26 - 27

The Mayflower Hotel

Washington, D.C.

The AAC's largest and most prestigious event of the year brings together over 500 guests including climbers of all generations and disciplines, esteemed donors and high profile leaders. The weekend includes multiple events where you can rub shoulders with climbing legends, young and old alike. 

Celebrate 100 years of climbing in our beautiful National Parks, with keynote by Alex Honnold. Tickets include Honnold's presentation, high cuisine, great wine and beer, silent and live auctions, and access to other weekend activities including the Climbers' Gathering, panel discussions, and some of climbing's highest honors.

See Dinner Website for details and ticket purchases.

Facebook Event Page                                    AAC Award Winners on ClimbingMag.com                                   How National Parks Tell Our Story

2016 Winter Outing

Rufus on the ascent of Algonquin Peak (5,115 ft), MacIntyre Range, Adirondacks

The annual Metro NY Section Adirondack Winter Outing was held January 22-24 and in spite of the fall weather that lasted well into December winter did finally arrive in the Dacks. As usual, we booked the entire Rock & River Lodge in Keene, NY, for the exclusive use of NY Section members and guests. Both the snow and ice conditions were better than expected and we had an enthusiastic 30+ crew of both new faces and longtime friends. In an ironic twist, a monster winter storm hit NYC just as we were all headed north looking for snow. 

After happy-hour and dinner Saturday night the Section flag was presented to Mark Aiston and Rufus Van Gruisen to carry on their upcoming trip to Nepal and climb of Mera Peak (21,247 ft). We look forward to a safe return and some good stories from Mark and Rufus at the Spring Outing. This was followed by Michael Schlenker's recount of his recent climbing exploits in the Alaska Range. I'm happy to report that our member involved in a climbing accident on the backside of Pitchoff Saturday is back home and recovering well. Thank you to all that lent a hand Sunday and helped with this.

Please mark your calendars for January 20-22, 2017 for next year's Winter Outing. I look forward to seeing some of you again at the Banff Film Festival in NYC, the Gunks work weekends this spring and at other Club events. Don't forget to reserve your tickets for the Club's Annual Benefit Dinner featuring Alhex Honnald in Washington D.C. at the end of this month. 

Best regards, 

Howard Sebold 
Metro NY Section Chair, AAC

Snow bike to ice climb, Chapel Pond Canyon 

Slopes of Algonquin

Some shots from Cascade X-Country Ski Center

What is more fun than a fat wheeled snow bike!

The New Yorker Article on AAC Member Ashima Shiraishi

AAC New York Section member Ashima Shiraishi featured in the January 11, 2016 issue of the New Yorker magazine.

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/01/11/the-wall-dancer