Joe Vitti works for Alpine Endeavors, a guide service based in New Paltz.
I hired Joe back in 2007 when I was first learning to lead trad climbs. Joe gave me two days of intensive training in placing gear and building anchors. And we did some fun climbing. I didn't know the cliff at all in those days-- it seems like another lifetime even though it was just five years ago. Joe took me up several great moderates and only as an afterthought did I ask him the names of the routes we'd climbed. They were all classics: Hawk, Snooky's Return, Madame G's, and others. Along the way I learned a ton about how to keep myself safe at the cliffs.
Since then I've seen Joe guiding around the Gunks on several occasions. He is always friendly, always professional. He's an all-around good guy.
Now in response to the tragic accident a few weeks ago Joe has gotten together with some other guides to offer free clinics for climbers on Saturdays, at 5:00 in the Uberfall. (See the flyer I've reproduced above.) At these clinics these guides will be offering (for free!) the kind of priceless information I got by hiring Joe several years ago. I would urge climbers of every level to try to check it out one of these Saturdays. I hope to stop by myself one of the next few Saturdays.
If you would like to attend, email Joe at joe@alpineendeavors.com, or call Rock and Snow at 845-255-1311, or EMS at 845-255-3280.
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