Committee Members |
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Manny Balderas Picked up climbing right after lock picking as a way to gain access to restricted areas while at MIT. After gaining entry into all the illegal places he wanted to, he decided climbing all by itself was a worthy endeavor... right after backpacking and winter camping failed to supply steady adrenaline rewards. Currently, Manny tries to rock climb (or ice climb) virtually every weekend at the expense of doing more watercolors or charcoal drawings at home in order to set himself up for more intense adventures. |
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Took the rock program in the spring of 2006 and then the ice program. Bitten by the climbing bug ever since (especially the cold one). Have been an avid hiker for many years and hope to combine the two disciplines for future big mountain adventures. Have hiked most of the big parks out west and just came back from Patagonia. In the winters you’ll find me at Huntington Ravine dreaming of bigger endeavors. Served as the committee webmaster since 2006 and co-coordinator for the Rock Program and committee member since 2007. |
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I started climbing in 1972 and joined the AMC when I moved to Boston in '73. I've been part of the Mountaineering Committee for many years, and currently serve as its Chairman. I've climbed in the Tetons, the Wind Rivers, the Cascades, the High Sierras, the interior ranges of British Columbia and Alberta, Alaska, the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, and Nepal. The soul of climbing is the friendships it fosters. I'd like to welcome you to the Boston area climbing community. Namaste. |
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Chris Dame I fell in love with mountains when I was a young exchange student in Switzerland. I failed to follow my passion until I learned to climb as an old man via the AMC rock and ice programs in the early 90's. Since then I’ve been lucky enough to climb and photograph beautiful mountains in the Andes, the Rockies and the Himalayas. Throughout these experiences the best part has been hanging out with wonderful people – both local mountain people and comrades from the AMC. You’re never too old to climb! Come learn with us. |
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I started climbing in the early 1980s after discovering a rock climbing course in college. I began in earnest in 1987 after accepting the position as first Manager of the Quincy Quarries. I took the AMC ice course in the mid 90s and fell in love with ice climbing. I’ve been lucky enough to climb throughout the US, Canada, the Andes and Alps. Co-Editor (with Susan Ruff) of "Boston Rocks" (2003). Access Fund Regional Coordinator. |
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Member (and treasurer) of the MC since 1975. Ran the spring rock program 3 years in the mid 1990's. Longtime active climber in the Northeast. Member of the American Alpine Club sine 1977. Have been climbing here in the northeast since the late 60’s and additionally have made numerous trips to popular climbing destinations in the Western United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. |
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Phil Jones Phil started hiking/backpacking and climbing just out of collage. Mountaineering and ice climbing has been his focus for the past ten years. He has climbed extensively in South America, Cascades, Rockies and of course New England. |
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After moving to the Boston area in 1999 I needed something to do. Rock climbing had always intrigued me so I went to the Boston Rock Gym to give it a go. I was interested immediately and took the rock course the following spring. From there it has been a trip into the vertical domain. A couple of years later I took the ice climbing course and was hooked! These days you can often find me at the Gunks during rock season and in the North Conway area during ice season. Since 2005 I have helped organize and run the ice climbing class. |
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I've been climbing for more than 35 years having learned from my father in Phoenix. I like warm sunny rocks and have done a lot of climbing in the west. Red Rocks (NV), Yosemite and JT are favorites. I recently failed getting up Devil's Tower with my two boys. They were mad at the time but they still climb with me today. Recently have really taken to skiing and can be easily talked into adventures on snow, like skiing the Haut Route in the French Alps. Locally can be found at College Rock, Crow Hill and Waban Arches. I've been active in the Boston Chapter Mountaineering Committee since 1994 and am very active in the Rock Program. You may have seen me and my two boys at the rock gym. In any case, please walk up and say hi and remind me of your name as I am very "name memory challenged". |
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I was first exposed to rock climbing during an Outward Bound program I was in at Hurricane Island in 1981. Found out about the AMC’s rock climbing program in Boston and went through that in ’83 (I think). I’ve been climbing and involved with the program ever since. Tried Ice in the 90’s and helped with that program for several years. A real fun event that some of us run is ClimbFest (see ClimbFest.com) which we run at the Quincy quarries late September. I chaired that committee in 2004+ 2005, and it looks like we’re going to try for an event in ’07 also. Compared to some of the other members, I’ve done only a little mountaineering; having climbed in the Tetons and the Canadian Rockies. However, rock climbing has taken me to N.H., Otter cliffs in Maine, the Gunks, Joshua Tree, Red rocks, City of rocks, Smith rocks, Mt. Lemon, Cochise Stronghold, and a few others. I’ve been able to see wonderful places and meet great folks while pursuing rock climbing around the country. |
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Ed Pavelchek I learned rock climbing with the college outing club in the 70’s (I was already a confirmed tree climber) and it has become my biggest driver to get outside and around. The views, the air, and the feeling of control tiptoeing above the void tempt me strongly. I’ve climbed the East Coast pretty extensively, as well as trips out west, Canada and Europe. Dabble occasionally with the cold version, ice climbing, as well as mountaineering. An ‘08 addition to the MC, I have been instructing in the rock program for about 10 yrs. |
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I learned to climb when I went to the Tetons in 1993 on a whim. My first multi-pitch climb was there on Baxter Pinnacle and after looking down between my legs at the crux and seeing marmots running around a few hunderd feet below, I knew that I was onto something. Have climbed in the Great Northeast, Tetons, Cascades, Bugaboos and CanadianRockies. Currently am the Mountaineering Committee Secretary. Active in the National Ski Patrol and the Mad River Glen Ski Co-Operative. |
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Sharlene Sallet |
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I got the climbing bug on a trekking trip in Nepal in the late eighties. Staring at the snow covered mountains in the distance I knew then and there that is where I wanted to be. I’ve been lucky enough to travel and climb on all but one continent. My first love is ice climbing and when the ice melts I can be found at the Quincy Quarries most Wednesday nights with the rest of the gang. Hope to see you at Darcy’s for a pint. I’ve been on the Mountaineering Committee since 1991. I’ve been a member of the American Alpine Club since 1995, and have served as Vice Chair to the AAC, New England Chapter since 1998 and now chair since 2009. |
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Larry Sodano
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Hoping to learn how to hike safely on glaciers I took the AMC learn how to rock climb program in 1980, and never really hiked again! It took just one weekend on the rocks and I was hooked. I’ve climbed in the Canadian Rockies, in the Bugaboos, in the Tetons, in the Wind River Range, at Joshua Tree, at Red Rocks, at Mount Lemmon, in Cochise Stronghold, at Camelback Mountain, at Queen Creek, in Hueco Tanks, in Elderado Canyon, at Lumpy Ridge, in the City of Rocks, at Smith Rock, in Yosemite, in Tuolumne Meadows, at Lovers Leap, all over the East, in England, in Wales, and in France. I have been a chairman of the Mountaineering Committee, run the beginners rock and also ice program for the AMC. Currently I am chairman of the Harvard Cabin committee, and edit The Crux, the Mountaineering Committee newsletter. In 2001 I married a climber’s climber and whether on rock, ice, or snow we just love to climb. |
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Mare Weiss I started climbing in the mid 90s in a NYC gym. Then it was off to the Gunks where I climbed until 2002 every weekend. After moving to Boston my trips were reduce to every two or three weekends. In 2003 I took the Ice Climbing Program and a new passion was found. I’ve climbed in Joshua Tree, Smith Rock, Eldorado Canyon, Red Rocks, Yosemite, Tetons, City of Rocks, Superstitions, Enchanted Rock, Zion, Adirondacks, all over NH and Massachusetts. I also climbed Mt Rainier in 1999. My passion is not just for rock and ice, I also favor backpacking and hiking year round. I’ve completed most of the Appalachian Trail from NJ to NH along with other sections in the south. Also spent time out in the Grand Canyon, Olympic Peninsula and the Tetons. I’ve been a member of the Mountaineering Committee since 2007 and have been co-coordinator for the Ice Program since 2006 and co-coordinator for the Rock Program since 2007 |
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Sarah Welch I first went climbing several years ago when I participated in summer camp with the AMC. I immediately knew it was my passion and I started climbing consistently when I moved to Boston in 2006. Now I can't stop and I climb almost every weekend year round. I can't decide what type of climbing I love best, so I just do it all - trad, sport, bouldering, ice, alpine and I've even tried aid climbing. My favorite is whichever I did last weekend... so depending on when you ask me, I might tell you that I want to be a Rumney rope-gun or that I'm an aspiring mountaineer dreaming about remote summits. |