"Midlife Crisis Direct"

December 21, 2003

Ian Osteyee and Mark Meschinelli

"After Birth Direct"

December 22, 2003

Will Mayo, Tom Yandon and Matt Horner

Poke-O-Moonshine, Adirondacks NY

Finally, "Midlife Crisis" has been climbed directly!  ADK local visionaries, hardmen, and guides Ian Osteyee and Mark Meschinelli climbed this fine coveted line on 12/21/03 (see photo, "Midlife Crisis" takes the left-hand finish).  Inspired, Tom Yandon, Matt Horner and I arrived on 12/22/03 and climbed the same direct start and finished up the free-standing chandeliered candlestick on the right.  Tom Yandon and Ian Boyer had reached the upper icicle by rappel last year and climbed it when it was even thinner than it is now; they had named it "After Birth".  We climbed the entire route from the ground in one long rope-stretching 70M pitch climbing the thin ice of "Midlife Crisis Direct" and then directly up the free-standing curtain and the magnificent free-standing pillar above.  "After Birth Direct" (70M, WI6).... Will Mayo