My brother Ken flew in from CA for the holidays, and Ted Coffelt was (as always) up to the challenge. Ted led the solid base and then tiptoed over 6 feet of near-open rock to finish the lead. Our first outing of the ice season was just what I needed, 1 day shy of my 30th birthday.

That's me, working out some early season jitters (photo MF)

Ken tackles his first ever PA ice climb, and first ice climb anywhere since his Feb '04 accident (photo MF)