Ivan Rezucha > Ivan's previous life in the Gunks

I lived and climbed in the Gunks from 1980 to 1998. I first climbed in the Gunks in 71 with my father and a friend of his. February 72 my friend Steve Reifenstuhl and I decided we should start rock climbing. We drove to New Paltz and bought a rack from Rock and Snow: 7 pins, 2 hammers, 1 cheap, 1 Chouinard which I stll have and is my oldest piece of gear, a gorgeous Chouinard Fantasia rope, some slings and biners. We didn't have a clue. Epics ensured. Including our first day that February when we had to bail from P2 of Easy O, lost and in the rain. Having never rappelled before, we did the Dulfersitz (rope over the shoulder and through the legs) as depicted in my 50s era German mountaineering book.