LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 36 Climbing at Poko Little did I know when I was younger that those scary walls dropping towards the Northway could be scaled. As my recreation has evolved over the years, rock climbing was one of those activities that came later on. While out west for graduate school, I was lucky enough to learn with new friends. Bouldering and sport climbing were first, but I only followed on trad climbs, cleaning my friends' gear from the walls, and wishing I had my own gear when I would someday end up back in New York. Well, my 3 years were up out west, and I moved back, and if you've climbed in the Adirondacks, you know that the ethic here is steeped in tradition. Sport routes and crags are scarce in the Forest Pre- serve, and if you don't have a trad rack, you'll either be driving far for routes, or doing laps up the same set of climbs. The community here is exceptional though, and my friend Bobby kindly invited me to follow him up Catharsis, a classic multi-pitch up Poko. Having just gotten back from out west, this was actually my first climb roped up in the Adirondacks, which in retro- spect, is one of the fuller circle stories in my entire life. If you're driving towards Plattsburgh on the Northway, Catharsis is on the proud nose of anortho- site that you see first on the mountain. It wanders up the seemingly scary slab, going from tree island to island, up delicate yet doable moves. Moving up the face was no monumental task, but it did mark another turn in my story with the mountain. I struggle to say that it was full circle, since the story is undoubtedly ongoing, but it's how I felt at the time. As the climbing seasons go on, there's no hesitancy when I say that there will be dozens more days spent placing cams in cracks on the main face of Poko. It's something every- one should try, even if you do just follow the leader like I did all that time out west. A wildlife sanctuary A common through-line in my life, no matter what recreation I'm into at the time, is my love for all things ecology, botany especially. During my time at SUNY Plattsburgh, I was taken under the wing of Dr. Mi- chael Burgess, a well-known area botanist. I learned lessons in life and in botany from him, oftentimes the two intermixing. After some time under his tutelage, I joined him and other friends of Poke-O-Moonshine, on a spring wildflower walk. The grandeur granted by its summit, and the sense of adventure you get from climbing or trail running you get on Poko, personal- ly pale in comparison to the joy I get from seeking out the lesser-seen aspects of these slopes. Home to arguably some of the best plant diversity in the Adirondacks, finding fairly rare plants along the trail and in the woods is commonplace. Wacky looking wild- flowers like Dutchman's breeches, one of my favorites, along with the classic red trilliums and sprinkles of vio- let-tinged hepatica, are some of what make this corner of the park special. Behind all of the activities we love to do at Poko, is a backdrop of history and importance. The Friends of Poke-o-Moonshine keep this alive, hiring a sum- mit steward every year to speak with visitors about those who came before, keeping watch of the forest preserve to prevent wildfires from spreading, along with lessons on conservation ethics and ecology. The Adirondack Mountain Club's trail crew has also worked wonders on the new Ranger's Trail, and it's a unique feeling walking up, knowing that you can hike this modern-style trail back in time to a tower that has been through it all. Left: Troy, friends, and family near the summit of Poke-o- Moonshine in 2010. Right: It's hard not to smile surrounded by friends with an epic view.

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