Alpine Logic

30/12/2024

Tomorrow is the day! Join me live for Managing Uncertainty: The URMAP Framework (and why every climber needs it). Very excited to share this info. Join me at the link in my bio ⛰️

06/12/2024

Looking forward to cleaning and climbing on December 8! Anyone who shows up for the highway clean-up get to climb for free ⛰️ More details at the link in my bio.

26/11/2024

One spot left in tomorrow’s “Self Rescue 101” course in the Gunks!

Sign up at link in my bio - would love to have you.

19/11/2024

Just a few spots left in my November Self Rescue 101 Clinic! I strongly believe that climbers of any level will benefit from this day of deep-diving into everything self-rescue. Learn more and reserve your spot in my bio!

17/10/2024

Back by popular demand! I’m opening up two Self Rescue Clinics: Nov 27 and Dec 7. Details ⬇️

You’ll learn how to create simple, effective rope systems, tackle problem-solving in critical moments, and master skills like rope ascension, lowering, hauling, and tandem rappelling. 🧗‍♂️You’ll also build confidence!

Limited to 4 people per session– save your spot now!

🔑 Pre-reqs:
- Toprope 5.7+
- 6+ months of recent climbing experience
- Indoor/outdoor climbing 1-2x/month

08/10/2024

📢 Calling all Gunks climbers! Ready to level up your rescue skills? Join my Self-Rescue Clinic in NY for an intimate, hands-on workshop designed to give you the confidence to handle emergencies on technical ground. You’ll learn how to create simple, effective rope systems, tackle problem-solving in critical moments, and master skills like rope ascension, lowering, hauling, and tandem rappelling. 🧗‍♂️

Limited to 4 people – save your spot now!

🔑 Pre-reqs:
- Toprope 5.7+
- 6+ months of recent climbing experience
- Indoor/outdoor climbing 1-2x/month

07/10/2024

Happy 12th anniversary to my best friend and my biggest teacher, . Thank you for expecting the world from me while so generously sharing your own. Thank you for your vulnerability, your passion and your work ethic. I owe you so much much and couldn’t ask for a better partner on this outrageous journey. I love you to the moon and back.

19/09/2024

Another opportunity to work with me and my awesome guide friend Dustin Portzline ()! In this clinic, you’ll learn to:

- Place, assess, and weight trad protection
- Stay present during falls
- Assess and take appropriate risks
- Improve commitment, mental focus, and safety awareness
- Develop flow, momentum, and problem-solving skills when placing gear

What we won’t cover:
- Equalizing anchors
- Multi-pitch transitions
- Other basic trad skills

Prerequisites:
- Lead 5.8 sport or top-rope 5.9 (no falls)
- Climb indoors/outdoors 1-2x a week
- 6 months of continuous climbing experience in the last year
- Some trad following/leading experience

Ready to climb smarter, not harder? Sign up in my bio 🧗‍♂️

17/09/2024

📢 Calling all climbers! Ready to level up your rescue skills? Join my Self-Rescue Clinic for an intimate, hands-on workshop designed to give you the confidence to handle emergencies on technical ground. You’ll learn how to create simple, effective rope systems, tackle problem-solving in critical moments, and master skills like rope ascension, lowering, hauling, and tandem rappelling. 🧗‍♂️

Limited to 4 people – save your spot now! (Only one spot left for the September date.)

🔑 Pre-reqs:
- Toprope 5.7+
- 6+ months of recent climbing experience
- Indoor/outdoor climbing 1-2x/month

16/08/2024

One of my best friends and colleague, Dick Chasse could use some help. (Link in bio!) Author of the “Starlight & Storm” podcast, Dick has had a rough year, falling ill in January 2024. After 9 months of being unable to work he’s recovering from brain surgery in which they removed a tumor. This is a huge positive step but there is still a ton of uncertainty in the months ahead. Please consider contributing a little if you’re able. And share everywhere possible! Huge thanks and big love. Link in bio. 🙏

08/05/2024

The Petzl Micro Traxion has gained enormous popularity in recent years as both a top rope soloing / ascension device as well as a replacement for a traditional belay device in belaying a second from the top of a pitch.

While I love this tool in specific situations and applications I think it’s been drastically overused and misused. I know the micro traxion (and similar devices) can work for these applications, but I need more than that….I need to know that IT CAN’T FAIL.

Here are two examples of this device failing - one in an ascension/top rope mode and one in belaying a second mode. These are real-world examples, with a climber getting badly injured in one case. I highly recommend that this device NOT be used as the sole means of securing a climber in 5th class terrain.

19/02/2024

So many new climbers, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts joined us here last week! 🙌🏻 A big welcome to all my new friends. If this is our first time meeting, I’m Silas- international mountain guide, AMGA president, dog dad, and founder of the Ascend coaching membership for climbers! When I’m not traveling the globe guiding my incredible clients, I’m creating and sharing resources for climbers from my home in the Gunks, NY. I’m so happy to have you here and I’d love to get to know you better inside one of my offerings. My f r e e ‘Mastering Knors & Hitches’ program is available in my b!o as is the Ascend Membership for climbers ready to take their skills and mindset to the next level. Welcome to the Alpine Logic community! 🏔

11/12/2023

Thank you to everyone who’s been writing to me about my new (f r e e) program, Mastering Knots & Hitches!

It’s incredibly inspiring to see climbers of all skill levels recommitting to this foundational practice, going deeper on knots they already know or trying their hand at a hitch that may be new to them.

If you would like to join the 200+ climbers already enrolled in this complimentary resource, head to https://alpinelogic.mykajabi.com/free

Keep it tight out there!

🏔

21/11/2023

Join Silas and the Alpine Logic community for a day of highway cleanup and climbing in the Gunks, NY! Cleanup day is Nov 26th, 9 am, followed by a cragging session. Let’s beautify and then scale new heights together! RSVP here https://alpinelogic.mykajabi.com/cleanup Can’t wait to see you there!

Join Alpine Logic for a day of community, cleanup, and climbing!

18/10/2023

bringing some absolute Gunks 🔥 to the masses!

It’s been so much fun climbing and working with Chris. He’s a total pro. And local legend! He’s also the one-man-show behind the lens for “The Ascend Membership” instructional videos.

Check it out in if you can.

04/10/2023

Just because something’s the “latest”doesn’t mean it’s the “greatest”.

The recent trend of belaying a follower/second with a Petzl Micro Traxion (or other toothed progress capture pulley) has baffled me.

This sort of use isn’t what the manufacturers designed the device for.

And what problem were we trying to solve by belaying this way? The difficulty of pulling rope through an auto/assisted locking device?

If this “solution” means that we now have to constantly be monitoring slack otherwise someone dies I consider this a step backwards.

I think we’ve missed the point…

For me, the fundamentals of choosing the best rope for a particular application comes first. Then I match a belay device that works well with that rope.

If you find that there’s too much friction in your belay equation it just means you haven’t properly matched your tools.

Using a device like the grigri to belay your second is a great way to reduce arm strain and provide your second the security they deserve.

02/10/2023

Am I working hard to make my life easier or better?

There was certainly a period in my life when I thought the goal was to make things easier. But that was a mistake - or at least not the whole truth. “Easy“ is tempting but almost never as fulfilling for me personally.

Putting in the work to make life better for myself and those around me though - that’s inspiring. That’s work worth doing.

What are you working towards?

31/08/2023

Last chance! One more space for the Sept 4th course in the Gunks.

“Self Rescue clinic: 101" summer & fall schedule is up here in the Gunks!

Clickable link in bio! ( https://bit.ly/rescue101 )

You’ll learn to:
• Create simple & clean rope systems that prevent hiccups from becoming big problems
• Improve problem-solving skills in the context of you or your partner being injured
• Move your team up and down technical ground in the event of an emergency, including:
- Rope ascension
- Lowering
- Hauling
- Technical rope transitions & load transfers
- Tandem rappelling

Pre-Requisite Experience:
• Able to toprope 5.7
• Climb indoors/outdoors at least 1-2 times per month
• At least 6 months of continuous climbing experience within the last year
• Some experience following or leading trad routes