🆕📝 7 Things This Week [#173]

Quite the variety this week!

A little personal trip down to the Gunks to get ready for rock season! Feels great to be pluggin’ cams and pulling on rock. Book a trip of your own! Single and multi pitch, learn to lead, anchoring clinics — we do it all.

Todd and I completed a mega day out in the High Peaks (18 miles, 6000 ft elevation gain, 13.5 hours) tagging his 20th-23rd winter summits. Our first truly warm hike together this winter, we battled steep ascents, deteriorating snow, and high winds. But it was all smiles all day with incredible views throughout the day. What a way to close out the winter hiking season!

March ended in a flurry! I scurried down to the Gunks for a few days of nice weather to climb with @coppertop217 (we stayed in a school bus AirBnB!), who then followed me back up north for a very successful @adkclimb.club and skiing at @whiteface_mt. I hunkered down for a couple days while an ice storm made everything slippery and then back to Whiteface for an open-to-close laps day with the man, the myth, the legend @willclimbz for his birthday. Great way to round out the month, and now I’m back to dreaming about rock climbing!

A person holds a climbing rope wrapped around a tree on a rocky ledge high above a forested valley with bare trees and distant hills visible in the background. A climber in a helmet sits on a rocky ledge holding a phone, surrounded by climbing ropes, overlooking a vast forested landscape extending to the horizon. A rock climber scales a vertical cliff face using safety gear in an outdoor setting under partially cloudy skies. Two climbers wearing helmets and jackets smiling while securing ropes on a rocky surface surrounded by bare trees. A parked yellow bus beside a small, black camping tent amidst tall trees. Nearby, a covered round table with four stacked chairs rests on dry, leaf-strewn ground. A person sips from a white mug while seated in a cozy vehicle interior. A package of OREO cookies and a Jetboil are on a patterned table nearby. Climber ascends vertical rock face using a rope and harness in a natural outdoor setting with trees at the top and a clear blue sky above. Climbing rope extends up a rocky cliff face under a clear blue sky with sparse trees at the top edge creating a rugged outdoor setting. A climber ascends a bouldering wall with colorful holds while several people observe in an indoor climbing gym featuring padded flooring and overhead lights. Two people wearing ski helmets and goggles are smiling, standing on a snowy mountain with a wooden railing and a distant view of mountains. On the jacket, text reads FISU University Winter Games 2023 KARBON. Two people wearing helmets and ski goggles smile while sitting on a ski lift surrounded by leafless trees, both wearing winter jackets, one in blue and the other in red.

Finding it hard to get motivated to tackle my work to-do list… Small goals, I guess. #1: Social post about climbing. #2: Blog post about a great podcast I heard. #3: Blog post about packing for winter hikes.

Jason Snell: ‘My unsuccessful journey into Netflix’s ad tier’

While the ads played on, I began creating a thought experiment: There’s a $10 difference between the ad and ad-free plans. If Mr. Netflix (he wears a top hat) came to my house and said, “Jason, I’ve got a great deal for you. I’m going to pay you $120 a year, and all you have to do is watch ads while you watch Netflix,” what would I do? When I started thinking about it, I thought it might be an interesting intellectual question. What would I accept in exchange for having Mean Mr. Netflix beam ads into every show I watch?

🤔

I’ve had my M4 MacBook Air for all of a couple of hours, and I already love it. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m setting up as new and haven’t loaded it down with years of data and apps yet, but it feels notably faster than my M1 Mac mini. 😍 (I have to say, though, I already wish they made a 12" version.)

Tried out an (unclimbed?) ice flow off of the Jay Mountain ridge today! T’was thin-but-in! The 3-mile uphill walk to get there was a bit of a bear, but nabbing an extra day of climbing was well-worth it. Thanks for the invitation, Jim!

Person wearing a helmet and goggles, smiling and dressed in winter gear, standing on a snowy slope. The background features trees and a partially frozen waterfall in a forested area. A frozen waterfall cascades down a rocky cliff, surrounded by snow-covered ground and leafless trees, under an overcast sky. Pine trees line the top of the cliff. Snowy mountain landscape showing dense forested hills extending into the distance under an overcast sky creating a tranquil and vast wilderness atmosphere. Mist-covered mountains with snowy patches rise in the foreground against a backdrop of overcast skies, creating a serene winter landscape in a forested area. A person climbs a large icy slope using ropes surrounded by snow-covered trees in a forested area on a cloudy day. Two people smiling in winter gear navigate through a snowy forest with bare branches and evergreen trees while carrying backpacks and wearing protective headgear.

Today was my final shift for the season as a Ski Instructor at @whiteface_mt. What a privilege to help people learn or progress in such an awesome sport — and get to free ski in the off times! Great crew working there, each talented instructors who made everything fun for our students. ⛷️

Blue snowsports jackets laid on a wooden surface with name tags reading JARROD Snowsports Whiteface. The jackets feature a triangular logo and lime green zippers, accompanied by matching blue helmets.

I played myself so well. At a local film festival last year, I arrived “on time” (late) and got a terrible seat at the back. This year, I was running late again and rushed in at 6:30pm to find a mostly empty theater. Thought the date change led to empty seats. Checked my ticket, it says 7pm. Thank you Past Me for putting it in my calendar 30 minutes early so I could get a good seat!

A large screen displays an image of a mountain landscape with vibrant lighting and the text “Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival.” Below the screen, there are banners with logos and names, including Lowe Alpine, Rab, and Chestnut Mountain Productions. The seating area is empty, suggesting a theater or presentation setting.

Unless the weather changes drastically or I do some surprise adventures, looks like I nabbed 18 days of ice climbing this season. It felt like more, and it was a great season with massive progression in skills and confidence, but I’m determined to climb even more next year. Aiming for 30 days minimum!

🆕📝 ‘I’m a season 1 sorta guy’

Matt Birchler and I are on the same wavelength on this one.

We’re excited to bring the Adirondack climbing community together with weekly climber meetups. We visit different spots every Thursday at 5:45pm, year-round, at crags near Lake Placid! Boulders, rock, ice, and gyms are all in play. Bring your gear (or borrow some from our sponsor, @onwardguides), a post-climb beverage, and tell your friends!

We welcome climbers of all skills levels, but please note that these are meetups, not guided experiences. Climb at your own risk.

(@onwardguides would love to take you on guided climbing trip for more personal instruction!)

People climbing rocks while smiling in a wooded area. Text reads Weekly climbing meetups Thursdays at 5:45pm Follow <a href="http://adkclimb.club">@adkclimb.club</a> for info. A person climbs a large boulder in a snowy forest. Leafless trees surround them against a clear sky. Text reads Year-round bouldering. Two people wearing helmets are preparing for rock climbing one holding a rope the other standing on a rocky path surrounded by large boulders and greenery. Text says single-pitch rock climbing. A climber ascends an icy vertical wall using ropes at night surrounded by snow-covered ground and trees. Text in blue reads winter ice climbing. Climbers pose together smiling indoors near a climbing wall and mats while others climb and observe. The setting is a gym. Text reads and indoor gym climbing New spots every week Meet new climbing partners and build the community Orange helmet with stickers rests on a textured surface surrounded by snow. Text on image reads Need gear We have you covered Onwardguides provides shoes harness helmet belay device and more to those in need Just DM us ahead of time.

My wife saw that the Severance finale was over an hour an decreed that we wait until morning to watch it. So no spoilers! 🙏

🔗 Woot’s Big Apple Watch Band Sale Returns With Solo/Braided Loops at Up to 70% Off

If you missed out before, now’s a second chance at super discounted Apple Watch bands. I picked up a few last time and have enjoyed having the variety!

The rock season starts with Pitchoff! The Lonely (5.6, onsight) → Pete’s Farewell (5.7) was the perfect way to kick things into gear with @saw_dust_ery. Let’s go climbing: onwardguides.com

A person wearing a blue helmet climbs a steep rocky cliff holding onto a rope in a rugged forested area with bare trees and shrubs. Climber wearing blue helmet ascends rock face using rope beside a road and frozen river surrounded by snow-dusted terrain with sparse trees.

I’d forgotten how much tread these @lasportivagram TX3 approach shoes came with! 😅 Glad I nabbed a fresh pair before they’re discontinued.

Two shoe soles with visible Vibram logos display different wear levels on a wooden surface. One sole appears more worn, and fingers point at the newer sole&rsquo;s distinct tread pattern.

🆕📝 7 Things This Week [#172]

Fancy Unicode text, an incredible performance, a better t-shirt, a whimsical app, a Shortcuts tip, Severance merch, and an amazing climbing accomplishment in New Zealand.

My wife and I have never been ones to fly flags at home. But the sickening attack happening on LGBTQ+ folks has compelled us to be more visible and outspoken in our support for them and other marginalized communities. Simply flying a flag isn’t much, but I hope you know you have friends in this house.

Be kind. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. That’s what we believe it is to be an American. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇸

A pride flag, featuring rainbow and chevron stripes, is attached to a cabin in a snowy forested environment with bare trees surrounding the scene. An American flag waves on a wooden porch adorned with green garland near a house. Snow patches cover the ground surrounded by trees in a forest setting.

Finally ticked Central Pillar with Jim and @saw_dust_ery! Both pitches were so much fun today. I led up the right side with some big traverses. Then top roping the steeper left side was one of my favorite pitches of the season. Hope to get back to lead that one soon!

A frozen waterfall descending a rocky slope is framed by bare trees with snow covering the ground and surrounding landscape. A climber ascends a steep, icy slope using ropes and gear, situated in a snowy, mountainous forest under a clear blue sky. Frozen waterfall cascades down rocks forming layers of ice surrounded by a forested area with trees and shrubs. A person in a blue helmet climbs a steep ice wall using a rope surrounded by trees and rocky terrain. Frozen waterfall cascades down a rocky cliff surrounded by snow and leafless trees against a clear blue sky.

Squeaking in perhaps our last climb on Multi Gully for the season, @izzolp33 and I had a grand time on the fat and sticky second pitch (first pitch is definitely deteriorating). Great day in the Adirondacks!

@newyorkoutdoorguides @lakeplacidadk #Adirondacks #PerfectDayADK #HireAGuide

Sneaking in a few pitches with @ben_k_ and @andrew_jarvis05 before the next big warm-up. North Side of Pitchoff seems like it’ll hold on for a bit longer. 🤞

Book your ice trip before it’s too late!

Hiking Marshall and Cliff mountains together meant we could cut out an extra drive to Newcomb, but, boy, 20-mile days are long! Spring is knocking at our door with wet snow conditions, and rivers opening back up. But the peaks are still plenty snowy and gorgeous. Another couple winter peaks checked off the ol’ list!

Anna Betts: ‘US added to international watchlist for rapid decline in civic freedoms’

The United States has been added to the Civicus Monitor Watchlist, which identifies countries that the global civil rights watchdog believes are currently experiencing a rapid decline in civic freedoms.

Civicus, an international non-profit organization dedicated to “strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world”, announced the inclusion of the US on the non-profit’s first watchlist of 2025 on Monday, alongside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Italy, Pakistan and Serbia.

Oh joy. 😞

Wait a second. Do I really still have to sign in to replay.music.apple.com to get my Replay playlists added to my music library? I just realized that I never even had my 2024 one added, let alone the 2025 one that’s now available! 🤪

Music playlists are displayed in a grid format, featuring Apple Music mixes like &ldquo;Chill Mix,&rdquo; &ldquo;Favorites Mix,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Replay&rdquo; for years 2015-2023. The side menu shows various playlist categories.