Begginers day Status: CANCELLED DUE TO CATS AND DOGS

It's absolutely pouring tomorrow we will cancel.

Call me at home: 703-242-8166, or on my cell: 703-919-1098 if you have any doubts.

Retirement Party for John Markwell 5/7/5 or other events at Seneca

5/7 Saturday night we're gonna have a retirement party for John Markwell. Kurt Smith (well known climber now operating New River Guides) will be cooking a Mexican grill sponsored in part by Montrail and Mountain Hardwear. There will be free beer (while it lasts) and most of important of all we want folks to share stories about John. We'll also have demo shoes available to try that weekend from Montrail, Sportiva, Mad Rock and Red Chilis.

HUH? Those of you who have climbed Seneca Rocks, WV, know the owner of the premier Rock Climbing Shop, the only rock climbing shop in the shadow of Seneca Rocks- John Markwell. For years Mr. Markwell has been a familiar face at the Gendarme, offering the latests and greatest rock climbing gear at vey competitive prices, so far from home! The service and tradition continues with the new owners. Visit www.climbseneca.com for the best spray.

The tradition lives on as the Kearns man the Gendarme for the next chapter in service to the climbing community.

The following is the schedule of events for this year!

Fourth of July (7/2-7/4) brings the scavenger hunt, fireworks (assuming the weather cooperates) and beer. The scavenger hunt is where we place film cannisters with a prize ticket stuffed inside somewhere up on the rock. Last year's big prize was a rope and all but 2 of the 10 cannisters were found.

The Chili Cook Off will be 10/22-10/23 weekend. The usual competition, live music and beer to commemorate the falling of the Gendarme in 1987.

The only other event I have up my sleeve is a possibly bringing the Telluride film festival to Seneca Rocks around Labor Day. I'm working on that so can't say that's firm yet but I will let you know.

Plan on a good time at Seneca Rocks West Virginia Style!!!!!!!

Maria (Ria) Bosnak

Maria and Bob Bosnak were carderock residents for many years before they moved to Viera, Florida in 1997 from Stone Trail Drive.

Ria graduated from Connecticut College in 1951 with a degree in Chemistry and from Yale University Scool of Nursing in 1954 with a Masters Degree in Nursing. Ria worked for many years in psychiatry at Sibley Memorial Hospital in D.C. Ria passed away on December 21, 2004 from Alzheimers Disease and associated illneses. Ria will be intered in Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, April 8th 2005.

There will be a memorial service at 11am in the old Fort Meyer Chapel, followed by internment at the Columbarium, Bob and the children, Elizabeth and Robert, will host a reception and luncheon at the Fort Meyers Officer's lub. Carderock residents desiring to attend the memorial service and reception should be at the Arlington Cemetery Main gate no later than 10:45am, where the guard will direct you to the chapel. If you need further information or directions, please cal Brenda Bell at 301-469-6990 Bob Bosnak

I recieved this notice, my condolenses.

Great Falls Sunday Climbing

It was a fantastic turnout at 8am. there were probably 20 climbers milling about until we all started wandering down the trail. We set up the routes at bird's nest and cornice. It was a beautiful day and the weather couldn't be better.......Ah, Climbing season! Thanks to Mitch Hyman for Leading this trip and many more!!!!!!!!

A heart felt Thanks to ALL!

Last night we enjoyed a wonderful show by Hans Florine about speed climbing in Yosemite.

It got me all PUMPED UP for climbing this summer season!

I want to thank Simon Carr and Jeannette Helfrich of The American Alpine Club, Carolyn McHale and Wendie White of She Climbs, Lorne Parker of Virginia Climber and Charlotte Bonilla of The PATC/MS, for putting on a great show, and specially, all the volunteers who distributed flyers all over the Washington area.

Also I want to thank Syl Mathis of the National Cathedral School Voyageur Program for providing us with a great venue.

Our Webmaster, Up Rope editor and jack of all trades Vincent Penoso, who finished (under the gun) our wonderful Mountaineering Section display.

I am sure we will use it again on upcoming shows.

Thanks again,

Ozana Halik PATC/MS Chair

Apres Slide Show

That's Hans on the left.

Meeting a deadline

Display Sign Language

Hans Florine Show

The Hans Florine Show was an utter success. The glue was still drying on the Multi-media endeavor we called an climbing display, as the throngs of the eager and the curious filtered into the auditorium. This picture is the result of an orchestrated effort by the entire staff at the UPROPE complex and the PMC's very talented Graphic design firm of Bold Face Designs.

A presentation by Hans Florine tooks us into the mind of a world class speed climber as he battled to set speed climbing records against the very best in this class.

An articulate speaker, Hans, very graciously shared his zest for climbing with the audience, who were captivated by his riveting accounts of his acheivements.

Many speakers on a circuit have a time frame for a presentaion. They come and They roll through the script, but not so listening to Hans with his relaxed format. This show was a must see look into one of the greatest climbers of the Yosemite valley. I found Hans to be the real deal, genuine, grounded and confident as one would be who has climbed big walls and has returned to earth to mingle with mere mortals.

Seriously if you have the opportunity to catch Hans Florine, You will be inspired to start timing yourself running up the stairs at work; it was a real treat. He will be in Boston shortly for the same presentation and a 3 day climbing clinic at a local gym.

This Climbing show marks a milestone for the PMC. Our club chair, Ozana Halik, as was mentioned at the meeting, has revitalized this club. The last meeting we had was an absolute BEEHIVE of activity, plus we ran out of pizza because of the member turn out. His idea of having an information booth increases our visibility as a climbing club at these functions to swell our membership! Good Onya Ozana!

Gear left at the April Meeting

Climbing Gear Left at The Meeting last night. Email to identify. No questions asked.

This weeks slide show (Weds. 4/13)

I will give two short slide shows;

1. Successful summit bid of Mt. Stuart's N. Ridge, N. Cascades. One of the NA 50 Classic climbs.

Climbers; Lee Jenkins, Ted Plasse & Kurt Ferstl.

2. Attempt of the 900' water ice route Stairway to Heaven (WI4) near Silverton Colorado, March 2005.

Climbers; Lee Jenkins and Simon Carr.

Hope to see you there!

-Lee

Carderock Wednesday is Tuesday this week

Hi Yall! The Season opener was a great time!

Many new members were present; all in all, about 20 of us made it and it was nice to see we survived the winter!

The water had dropped and was not a problem.

This wednesday is the monthly meeting so we typically climb on the tuesday!

So, bring your gear, get here early and set ropes up for the PMC; there were other groups there scarfing routes.

Consider marking your climbing gear so it can catch with you if you happen to leave it at the crag and becomes "booty".

Friends of Seneca Work Party April 23,2005

William Wright <wwrightsr@COMCAST.NET

We need about 5 more good workers for the work day on the 23rd of April.

Free camping at the Seneca Shadows Campground for workers, Fri and Sat. nights.

Free dinner on Sat after work. Mandatory safty meeting on Sat at 8:00 am in the old parking lot.

Call me for details at (703) 860-3752, we will be doing stone work and construction of a sign.

William G. Wright Sr. Seneca Coordinator

Drying out, as you can see,

Sterlings and Elsie's

another view

Because of the recent high water levels on the Potomac, the bottom of the
climbs at Carderock were under water. I went to check the climbs today, it looks like the water levels is going down and the mud is drying. So we are going climbing as planned on Wednesday

Seeeya there.
Ozana Halik

CARDEROCK WEDNESDAYS BEGINS April 6th

Remember, That the second wednesday of every month we have a meeting so for that week we climb on that tuesday (the second tuesday before the second wednesday).

Capice?

Photo Contest Entries

People are getting red hot about this Photo Contest.

"So dust off those dusty strings" and show them one more time!

checkoutthesenewestentries

The water is right there. There was an entire climbing group there today.

shot of jan's face

This is at the top of whatever climb towards triple s I guess but never U mind , look how close the water is!

Live Carderock Climb CAM: Could be a slog unless you drop in from above. Jans' face was alright but the area just around the corner and towards elsie's udder...as you can see...is a chocolate mess. I didn't go any further. With the added projected rains for this weekend, it could be a typically interesting start to PMC's climbing season gala.