
North Country explorer from
Positive Thinking is an Adirondack classic ice climb on Poke-O-Moonshine Mtn. It's roughly 500' long and rated WI5- on the water ice rating system. The first pitch is a climb up laminated slab to a belay below fat water ice, the true crux. Pitch one is often thin and prone to delaminating from the base rock; there was a death in the early 2000's when the ice collapsed as a climber was topping out. Thus caution and proper assessment of the route is critical. Sun is the enemy.
Katie Vannicola came with me on this trip. I led pitch 1 and 2 and she took the third and final pitch. It was a stunning day with slightly overcast skies and gently blowing snow flurries. Temps were in the 30's so it was quite warm.





Positive Thinking from the road is an impressive 500' of ice.
Kevin leading pitch 1.
Kevin leading pitch 2.
Katie Vannicola following pitch 2...spicy.
Katie leading a funky chimney on pitch 3.




