Made of Stone
How the Gunks Volunteer Trail Crew is Changing the Way You Approach Climbing
Dick Williams has been climbing in the Gunks since 1958, and when you visit his office you’ll find signs of it. Pictures of Williams and friends out...
The Beta: Gunks camping and climbing this season
Fritz Weissner was practicing modern climbing techniques in the Gunks before chocolate chip cookies were invented, and, like chocolate chip cookies, the Gunks engender a certain homey nostalgia in many climbers. Not many American climbing areas have such a rich and storied history, populated with an inspiring cast of ironclad men and women who pushed the sport...
State of the Used-nion: 90 Days at the New Annex
We opened our new Annex location at 28 Main Street three months ago. Now we're looking at what's changed, what's stayed the same, and what's next for our new building...
The Beta: Bouldering in Hueco Tanks
Earlier this month, two Rock and Snow employees and a few of their friends flew south for nearly two weeks of bouldering in the west Texas sun. Considered by many to be both the mecca and the birthplace of American bouldering, the North, West, and East mountains of Hueco Tanks boast thousands of problems spanning the grades from V0-...
Climbing shoes: buying and selling, used and new
Maybe you've just started climbing and you're breaking in your first pair of climbing shoes in the gym. Or maybe you've been climbing for 10 years and have a closet full of climbing shoes, skipping...
Flashback: Scott Franklin
While picking through an outdoors store in Acadia on a bike trip that he and a fellow student took from New York to Maine, a 14-year-old New York City-based Scott Franklin stumbled upon climbing—a cool pastime for which he had natural talent. But there’s no question: just a few years...
Fall Speaker Series: Silas Rossi
The season is upon us here at the Gunks. Crisp days followed by cool nights, and, for the climbers among us, a sea of sticky stone. While your day might be filled with plugging gear or even a Catskills run and hike, join us at 8pm at Rock and Snow on select Saturday nights this fall for our annual Fall Speaker Series. We've...
Flashback: Elaine Matthews
A prolific female climbing pioneer of the 70s, Gunkie Elaine Matthews talks women in climbing and how she became a "lifer".
Flashback: Rich Gottlieb
Bold rock and ice climber and owner of Rock and Snow, Rich Gottlieb, talks about the past, the present and what it means to take risks.
The Story Behind Brave New Wild
Originally from Ellensburg, Washington—now based in Flagstaff, Arizona— Oakley Anderson-Moore’s dive into filmmaking was anything but conventional. She launched her work with a seven-years-in-the-making film that is part history, part existential wanderings. A project that took over her life, the making of
Looking Back to Look Ahead
This weekend (May 1-3), the ROCK Project will be coming to New York. For those unfamiliar with this event series, the Access Fund and Black Diamond teamed up to work with...
The history of Rock and Snow—a cult classic
Rock and Snow celebrates 45 years of keeping it real
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If you build it, they will come.
The Stewards: Open Space Institute
Our little neck of the woods is ripe with diversity, and steeped in rich appreciation of the outdoors. For those of us who live here, we all share the sentiment; for those who visit, it is easy to see and appreciate. But the protective cape around the areas we love around the Shawangunks didn’t happen overnight. It was a joint...
The Stewards: The Mohonk Preserve
Our little neck of the woods is ripe with diversity, and steeped in rich appreciation of the outdoors. For those of us who live here, we all share the sentiment; for those who visit, it is easy to see and appreciate. But the protective cape around the areas we love in and around the Shawangunks didn’t happen overnight. It was...
Montane: The Story Behind a Brand, Representing a Way of Life
“A four-man team is designed more for comfort than speed, and there under Mount Fitzroy’s 5,000-foot Super Couloir, a fearsome route on its...
Fall Speaker Series: VetEx
The season is upon us here at the Gunks. Crisp days followed by cool nights, and, for the climbers among us, a sea of sticky stone. While your day might be filled with plugging gear or even a Catskills run and hike, join us at Rock and Snow every...
Fall Speaker Series: Francis Sanzaro
The season is upon us here at the Gunks. Crisp days followed by cool nights, and, for the climbers...
Fall Speaker Series: Andy Kirkpatrick
The season is upon us here at the Gunks. Crisp days followed by cool nights, and, for the climbers among us, a sea of sticky stone. While your day might be filled with plugging gear or even a Catskills run and hike, join us at Rock and Snow every Saturday night from September...
Flashback: Rich Romano
It would be hard to see Rich Romano’s prolific 'Gunks background on a first encounter; he is quiet and soft-spoken about the past. But the more you dig, the more you find. One of the most prolific ground-up first ascentionists in the 'Gunks and the Northeast, Romano is known for...
The Gunks Gets an App: the Future of Gunks Climbing Is Just A Click Away
“The whole industry has changed,” says local climber Christian Fracchia, “and we took an opportunity.”
In an age when much of our...
Flashback: Rich Goldstone, Progenitor of 'Gunks Bouldering
Progenitor of bouldering in the 'Gunks and first to introduce chalk to climbing in the area, Goldstone talks the Vulgarian-Appie battle, John Gill and the first ascent of the Trapps’ Mac Wall Testpiece, CoExistence
Flashback: Dick Williams, The Documenter
This Gunkie, guidebook author and area legend riffs on Rock and Snow, the Vulgarians and his favorite ‘Gunks decade: the 60’s
Dick Williams. For many the name alone spurs thoughts of rumored adventures and...
Flashback: Lynn Hill's Welcome To The Gunks
Rock and Snow’s newest blog series “Flashback” is an interview series of historic ‘Gunks climbers and their best memories of the area. Tune in as we pull stories from nearly 80 years of material out of the ‘Gunks climbing history vault.
Demystifying the term women’s specific: gimmick or gimme one?
Ever wonder what women's specific really means? So did we...
It’s a fact of nature: men and women are built differently. That’s no surprise. But does that mean that we all need different gear to enjoy the outdoors? From...
Rock and Snow's Resident Trail Running Specialist Talks Shop
Rock and Snow’s Resident Running Specialists Gives Up the Goods on Her Four Favorite Trail Runs
Intense dark brown eyes and an ever-present smile, Rock and Snow employee...
Ticks, Bees and Snakes, Oh My!
From Lyme disease to hornets: All you need to know about the natural hazards of hiking and climbing around New Paltz
It’s that time of year when everyone (and -thing) comes out of the...
Five of Our Favorite (Obscure) Hikes Around New Paltz: Part Two
Now, officially, it’s Spring and with the temps warming up, it’s time to start thinking about getting out and exploring on foot or on bike. While in the first part of our two-part...
Five of Our Favorite Hikes In and Around New Paltz: Part One
The Polar Vortex and snow that followed has frosted New Paltz for the better part of 2014, making the promise of longer days, warmer weather, BBQ’s and sitting outside with an ice cold beer even more alluring. While early March will still lasso some cold temps, the snow will soon be melted uncovering hundreds of miles of trails in...
Hoka One One
Have you tried running in Hoka's? If you haven't, or if you've never even heard of them, you must come in and try them on! Yes, they do sort...
Living with the MSR Reactor
I am not in any position to compare and contrast all the good outdoor equipment that's on the market, but I know when I use something repeatedly that exceeds my expectations. I will try to keep up with the gear we carefully choose and sell at Rock and Snow and attempt to convey to you the reasons why I may consider something...
Being There
Climbing etiquette is discussed on occasion, but it is most often discussed in terms of how you interact with other parties sharing the cliff. Common sense and being considerate of the people around you is the basis on which best practices are formulated. However, over the years I have frequently seen a problem that is often...
Rock and Snow Blog!
Welcome to the first Rock and Snow blog post. I know that hardware is the great salivator but I would like to hold that card for a bit and instead address the often confusing realm of clothing. This is a great time to talk about what you are wearing due to the current conditions at the cliffs and in the mountains that can vary from...
