Rock climbing in Cascade Pass. File photo.

Northwood Outing Club climbers have gotten lucky with an exceptionally sunny and warm spring. Mr. Bob Emery has been taking students to explore the beautiful rocks and cliffs of the Adirondacks. They’ve had the opportunity to visit classic spots like the Beer Walls, Jewels and Gems, Pitchoff, and more. Skills such as belaying, anchor building, and knot-tying have been prioritized this season. Although almost everyone is at a different experience level, all kids can have the same fun experience as one another and bond over fun in the outdoors.

Students have had the opportunity to climb with the amazing Don Mellor on climbs such as Frosted Mug (5.9), Flying and Drinking and Drinking and Driving (5.10a), which was first put up by Mr. Mellor himself, and Tequila Mockingbird (5.10b). Individuals have had their own triumphs in climbing this season. For instance, Avery Novia ’24 had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Doug Ferguson, owner of Mountain Skills Climbing Guides, during her AMGA Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) course. Other students, like Alex Randall ’25 and Colton Cushman ’25, have stepped up to lead routes and set up top-rope climbs for their peers, demonstrating their growing confidence and skills.

Mr. Emery has given the NOC climbers a unique opportunity to push themselves, learn new technical skills, and get outside. While working with him, he gives lessons on the different types of anchor building, gear placement, and safety while climbing. As the 2023-24 school year ends, we could not be more grateful to Mother Nature for this beautiful weather. Northwood students will reflect on and remember their amazing adventures with the NOC climbing program this spring. Returning students are already giddy for this upcoming fall and cannot wait for what lies ahead as they enter their next year of school here in the incredible Adirondacks.

Alex Randall ’25 white-water kayaking in the spring of 2023. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.

This spring, Mr. Bobby O’Connor, Mr. Matthew Roy, and Mr. Eric Adsit have been guiding students through the Intro to Whitewater Kayaking, a program that prioritizes safety without compromising on the thrill. Whitewater kayaking involves using a kayak to navigate along wild rapids formed by the river. These students practice their paddling skills, exits, and safety techniques daily, ensuring they are well-prepared to tackle the Adirondack rapids.

To start, students were taught baseline skills such as how to hold their paddle, correct clothing and gear, and how they should fit inside their boat. This was taught on dry land so everybody could feel comfortable and start on an equal playing field for the beginning of the season. During these land sessions, everybody got fitted for equipment such as wetsuits, helmets, spray skirts, and the kayak itself. Once all the students found their perfect fits, they were taught how to wear their gear, correctly fit it to the boats, and adjust the boat to their liking.

After these fittings, students were brought to the North Country Community College pool. Here, they learned how to get comfortable in the water without the pressure of being pushed down a moving river. These pool sessions started with learning how to get into your kayak, how to produce strong strokes with the paddle, and how to wet exit. Every Wednesday for three weeks, these basic skills were practiced, and over time, some students even learned their roll – an essential skill for any whitewater paddler to have in case of capsizing. Between these sessions, Mr. O’Connor began taking paddlers to live water. They started easy on places like Mirror Lake and Lake Placid, which have no rapids but eventually moved on to rivers such as the west branch of the Ausable, the Saranac River, and Redford.

As the weeks pass and the students become more adept at handling technical terrain, their strength and skills will continue to grow. At the end of the year, a select group of these paddlers will embark on a thrilling adventure: the Sea Kayaking LEAP in the United Kingdom. This two-week paddling trip through Europe will provide them with a unique opportunity to work with experienced paddling instructors and paddle alongside professionals such as Steve Maynard, the SUNY Plattsburg kayaking instructor. The anticipation for this adventure is palpable, and despite the current year ending, the students are already looking forward to the next season of kayaking with the Northwood Outing Club.