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Mountaineering Committee

Our Mountaineering Committee organizes rock climbing (sport, traditional, and multi-pitch), plus the occasional ice climbing, indoor wall climbing, or backcountry skiing trip. Our volunteers run trips all year. Some are day trips or after-work evening trips to local climbs, others are multi-day trips to more distant venues.

The best climber is the one who is having the most fun. - Alex Lowe

The best climber is the one who is having the most fun. - Alex Lowe

We are committed to increasing the accessibility of the climbing world. If you're in doubt about your qualifications for a particular trip or what equipment you might need, ask the listed trip leader. Our committee is able to provide much of the equipment necessary.
We look forward to climbing with you!

Climbing at AMC

Chris Neil, Committee Chair
Rock and ice climbing are exhilarating activities that push individuals to their physical and mental limits. AMC has been a pioneer in teaching people the skills necessary to safely enjoy these challenging pursuits. Through a combination of expert guidance, experiential learning, and a deep respect for nature, AMC has cultivated a community of climbers who not only conquer mountains but also develop a profound connection to the natural world.

Upcoming Activities

Click or tap on the Register links to learn more and/or register for activities.

Top Rope Anchors Refresher/Hands-on Practice

Location: Erving, MA
Date: 24‑Oct‑2026
Register »
Join the AMC Western MA Chapter for a one-day Top Rope Anchors Refresher & Hands-on Practice day at Rose Ledge in Erging, MA! This course is specifically for climbers who have taken our Anchors Course in the past year, and who wish to get supervised hands-on experience and mentored anchor building practice. Participants must have a basic working knowledge of the gear/materials required for anchor building, SERENE principles, building and cleaning anchors on bolts (especially the quad), and building and cleaning natural anchors (especially the v-rig with tether), which were all taught in our Anchors Course.
The refresher and hands-on practice day will build on the material from the Anchors Course by getting lots of repetitions building different types of anchors, re-teaching material as needed. Participants will also climb on their anchors, building the trust and confidence that is essential for going out on their own. Holding the course at Rose Ledge will allow us to practice bolted AND natural anchors, as well as cleaning bolted anchors, as for a sport climb. It will also give participants some familiarity with a popular top-rope climbing area in Western MA.
Any interested climber who has not taken our Anchors Course in the past year is welcome to apply and will be screened to ensure they have the equivalent knowledge and skills. Priority will be given to those who have taken our Anchors Course.
A minimum of four participants is needed to run the course, with a small maximum group size to support close coaching and practice.
Refer to the registration page for more information.

Gym Climbing at CRG Hadley

Location: Hadley, MA
Date: 11‑Nov‑2026
Register »
Work week got you down? Please join the Mountaineering Committee for some midweek climbing! We will meet at 6:00 PM at Central Rock Gym in Hadley for a few hours of laid-back climbing and socializing.
Please be aware that an active membership or day pass is required to climb at CRG Hadley and you must also sign their liability waiver. Rental gear is available. If you know how to belay but are not certified to belay at Central Rock Gym, you will need to pass a belay test upon entering the gym.

Stick Season Crag Day at Hanging Mountain

Location: Sandisfield, MA
Date: 14‑Nov‑2026
Register »
Do you frown when the scenery starts to get brown? Maybe it's the shorter days and encroaching cold. Or maybe you are anxiously awaiting for the ice to form and the snow to fall so you can get working on your winter objectives. Either way, stick season is that time of year that often goes underappreciated. But there is still plenty of natural beauty to be found in the brown. So come out and enjoy the transitionary time between the bright autumn leaves and the glistening winter landscape by joining the AMC Western MA Mountaineering crew for a day of late season rock climbing at Hanging Mountain.
This southern Berkshires crag offers a wide variety of trad and sport routes for all skill levels. So break out those rock gloves, pack some extra layers and a hot drink and get ready to send stick season.
All participants must bring the following gear: helmet, harness and a belay device (preferably an assisted locking device). If you do not have the necessary gear, please tell us what you need and a trip leader will reach out to you. Prior experience belaying is a must. We look forward to climbing with you!
Refer to the registration page for more information.

Drytooling Crag Day at the Keene Rail Cut

Location: Keene, NH
Date: 15‑Nov‑2026
Register »
Join us for a day of drytooling at the Keene Rail Cut. This is a casual crag day for people who want to get on rock with tools, practice movement, and get mileage before ice season.
Cost: Free. Group size is limited to 10.
You must be able to belay. This is not a learn-to-belay day, and everyone is expected to take turns managing the rope for partners. Equipment required: helmet, harness, belay device, locking carabiner, ice tools and crampons.
Come make last year's points worse before changing them for ice.
Refer to the registration page for more information.

SendsGiving - Western MA Mountaineering Social

Location: Greenfield, NH
Date: 28‑Nov‑2026
Register »
The turkeys have clipped in. The pies are racked. SendsGiving returns to Greenfield! Come hang out with the Western MA AMC Mountaineering Committee for an evening of potluck food, climbing trivia, and tall tales. This is the one night a year when everyone at the table actually wants to hear about your retreat from a "short and easy" approach that turned into a seven-hour epic.
Who should come: Rock climbers, ice climbers, alpinists, gym regulars, and anyone who mostly belays and eats snacks. If you've ever clipped a carabiner, you belong here. RSVP so we know how much food and how many folding chairs to round up.
Refer to the registration page for more information.

Gym Climbing at CRG Hadley

Location: Hadley, MA
Date: 16‑Dec‑2026
Register »
Work week got you down? Please join the Mountaineering Committee for some midweek climbing! We will meet at 6:00 PM at Central Rock Gym in Hadley for a few hours of laid-back climbing and socializing.
Please be aware that an active membership or day pass is required to climb at CRG Hadley and you must also sign their liability waiver. Rental gear is available. If you know how to belay but are not certified to belay at Central Rock Gym, you will need to pass a belay test upon entering the gym.

Intro to Ice Climbing - Frankenstein Cliff

Location: Hart's Location, NH
Date: 18‑Dec‑2026
Register »
Frankenstein Cliff in Crawford Notch is where most New England ice climbers took their first swing, and for good reason: a short approach, a wide spread of moderate flows, and enough variety that eight people can all be climbing at once. You will spend two full days on top-rope learning how to actually move on ice rather than thrash up it.
Swinging and kicking so the tools stick the first time, body position and footwork, reading ice for the good stuff and the hollow stuff, managing a cold belay, and climbing enough laps that the movement starts to feel like movement instead of survival.
You must be a competent top-rope belayer. You should be able to belay and lower a climber confidently and without supervision, indoors or out. No previous ice experience is needed and no previous course in this series, but belaying is a prerequisite and we will ask about it. If you have never belayed, take a gym or rock course first and come to us next season.
Beyond that, if you are comfortable being outside and cold all day in December, and you can get yourself up a trail in winter, you can do this course.
Refer to the registration page for more information.

Activity Schedule

All activities are subject to cancellation due to poor weather conditions. Check activities on outdoors.org for up-to-the-minute additions not yet shown here. Not all activities may be posted yet.
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