In February our section helped International Mountain Equipment sponsor the 20th annual Mt. Washington Valley Ice Festival in North Conway, New Hampshire. It was an honor to be chosen as the beneficiary of the Friday-night festivities, and we were able to raise over $2,500 for the Northeast Live Your Dream grant.

Bayard Russell was guest speaker for the annual section dinner at the Henderson House in Weston, Massachusetts. He kept us enthralled with his presentation on cutting-edge mixed climbing in the Northeast. In early May, AAC Regional Manager Sarah Garlick hosted a volunteer summit in the Gunks. Representatives of several sections were present, sharing in a lively discussion on the direction of the club, followed by some outstanding climbing in amazing weather. We rendezvoused for dinner at the Grist Mill before retiring to the Duck Pond in the Mohonk Preserve for a lively campfire.

In September, we had our second annual Craggin’ Classic festival in North Conway with evening events including slideshows by John Bragg and Madaleine Sorkin, music from a local band, and a pig roast. We also held our two annual BBQs at the base of Cathedral Ledge in North Conway, and a couple of after-work “Bouldering and BBQ” evenings at Hammond Pond, near Boston. Chad Hussey hosted the sixth annual “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over” cragging day at Ragged Mountain, Connecticut, in November.