New Dates for AMGA SPI Courses and Exams July 9, 2010 at 1:19 pm

August 14,15,16, September 17,18,19, October 9,10,11
A three-day (27 hour) training course and a separate two-day (16 hr) assessment designed by the American Mountain Guides Association (A.M.G.A.) This program is designed to enable instructors to “proficiently facilitate and instruct the sport of rock climbing in a single pitch setting.” This program is for current, active rock climbers that have a real desire to teach rock climbing to novices in single pitch or top rope setting. Candidates should be passionate rock climbers that have their own equipment, regularly climb and have been rock climbing outdoors for at least 12 months. Candidates include but are not limited to: college outdoor recreation leaders, experiential education program instructors, wilderness therapy staff, camp directors, youth leaders, climbing school instructors, and recreational climbers looking to improve upon their technical climbing skills and risk management.

SPI Assesment Dates, August 21-22, September 25-26, October 16-17.

Hydration, Hydration, Hydration… July 6, 2010 at 10:47 am

In this kind of weather, you don’t want to be dehydrated! Be sure to bring plenty of water for any activity, especially hiking. Hydration packs make keeping hydrated easy!
a good supply of Clif Shot Blocks snf Clif Shots are a real good idea too!

The 3 H’s are here at 10:44 am

Hazy, Hot and humid!
Good days to climb early when things are cool then hit the river, and come back for more climbing! Luckily both Cathedral and Whitehorse get shady in the afternoon, so climbing can be quite comfortable, especially if there is a breeze. The Black Flies are all but gone and the mosquitoes have not been an issue.
Summertime and the living is easy, so come on up and climb!

Can you believe it? 18 years of Women’s Rock Climbing Weekends has come and gone! June 30, 2010 at 11:51 am

That’s right, the 18th annual Women’s Rock Weekend was a great success!

The ropes are away, the climbing is done, thank you everyone who made this a fabulous weekend

Women’s Rock Weekend, hosted by International Mountain Climbing School and International Mountain Equipment, is the premier summer climbing event here in North Conway. We offer two days of women’s climbing clinics taught by professional women guides, plus an après-climb community party, a women’s dinner, inspiring slide show, and a silent auction to benefit a charity.
We are delighted to announce that we have donated $600 to this years beneficiary, Girls Education International, a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that works to expand educational opportunities for underserved girls and women in remote and undeveloped regions of the world.

This years Slide Show was by Heidi Wirtz. Just in case you haven’t heard of her – this is one incredibly talented woman with a dedication to philanthropy that is as great as her climbing ability. The North Face athlete has climbed all over the world and the slide show was about her trips to Pakistan, Australia, Nepal, and Morocco. She will also highlight her “proudest send” – the first all-female free ascent of the South Howser Tower of the Bugaboos in Canada.

Our guest guides this year were Emilie Drinkwater, Heidi Wirtz, Lizzy Scully, Sarah Garlick, Kayte Knower and Janet Bergman, and thanks to Jen Reed, Anna Condino and Craig Taylor.

We would like to thank this Years title sponsor, Outdoor Research, and supporting sponsors Mammut, La Sportiva, The American Alpine Club,, The North Face, Climb Bling, New England Ropes, Julbo, Mountain Hardwear, Scarpa and Wild Things. and all those who donated time and product for the event.

We look forward to seeing everyone back next year for the 19th Annual Women’s Rock Weekend!

Women’s Rock Day June 26-27 2010! May 8, 2010 at 11:14 am

It’s that time of year again! The snow is gone, the sun is shining and the rock is calling us! Join us for the 18th Women’s Rock Weekend in North Conway, New Hampshire. There are clinics at everyone’s level. From those who have never climbed before to the seasoned climber looking to fine-tune her skills with some incredible female climbers like Heidi Wirtz, Lizzy Scully, Madaleine Sorkin, Sarah Garlick and Janet Bergman. Enrollment has begun!
Visit our website for more info

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Winter? Spring? April 27, 2010 at 1:25 pm

Crazy weather up here…
Warm and sunny with lots of black flies yesterday, and snow arriving tonight.. Go figure!
The mountains may get up to a foot with 2-4 inches down here in the valley. Things should dry out for the weekend and with any luck, the snow will kill off the bugs!
The weather is suppose to be great by thursday, so come on up!

Spring is back! April 20, 2010 at 1:18 pm

After a soggy cold weekend, the weather has returned to seasonal!
Congratulations to IME sponsored racer Pete Ostroski on repeating as Tuckerman Pentathlon ‘Son of Inferno’ Race winner this past weekend!
The race had to be postponed for a day due to dangerous conditions, but the weather improved a bit and everything went off as planned on Sunday!

Inferno Pentathalon this weekend April 12, 2010 at 8:46 pm

The weather looks good for this weekends Tuckerman Pentathalon. Rick and a few MRS members will be manning the rescue station and there should be lots of spectators on hand to watch the participants run, kayak, bike hike and ski!

If you’re in town stop by the shop and check out all our new spring and summer clothing as well as all our new climbing gear.

And of course our bargain basement is chock full of great deals on previously owned gear and clothing.

Spring has Sprung April 7, 2010 at 10:14 am

Well the ice climbing season has officially ended, skiing up in the gullys and ravines remains quite good, although the usual hazards need to be heeded, ice fall, crevasses and avalanches. So be prepared!
Rock climbing season is in full swing here in the valley and we’ve got all of our new climbing gear and ropes in stock. New shipments of spring and summer clothing are arriving daily as well as a great assortment of hiking boots, approach shoes and climbing shoes.

It’s not raining!! March 31, 2010 at 3:54 pm

It has finally stopped raining and in typical New England form, we’re going from snow and rain to 80 degrees in a matter of days!
The Saco River is pretty high, luckily all the ice down here in the valley is long gone, so there were no ice damns, which can really cause problems.
The mountains received mostly rain that triggered some interesting avalanche conditions, but by the weekend things should settle down and spring skiing should be great.
I anticipate a lot of rock climbers showing up Friday for some outstanding early season climbing.
We’ve got the shop all stocked up with climbing gear, ropes and chalk and will be getting our summer clothing in soon.
Be sure to stop by and say “Hi” when you’re in town.