The Thacher Climbing Coalition is proud to announce the winners of the 2017 Autumn Photo Contest. Photos taken by climbers this season often reflect a combination of beauty, joy, sport and community. We had two categories of winners. The first category was for the photo with the most likes (popularity category), the second category was a vote from fellow climbers and photographers (artistic category). Photos had to include a climber at Thacher and have hashtags related to climbing at Thacher. The photos had to be also publicly viewable on Instagram.
Let’s give thanks to local businesses in support of climbing via this contest: Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery and Dizzy Chicken Woodfired Rotisserie!
Most Popular Winner:
Julie Hladik (@orangutanoblongata) won with this photo of reaching the top of a pitch on the east end of Horseshoe North Cliff. Her photo captures the enjoyment of reaching the top of a pitch and taking in the view and sunset. The beautiful Horseshoe North Cliff is positioned to catch the last bits of light and is a great place to finish your day climbing at Thacher.
Artistic Winner:
There were many cool photos of the area posted online. This category awards a photo which may not have the most likes on social media, but deserves recognition. Five Judges rated 15 photo finalists based on a combination of how well the photo captured the sport of climbing, how well it highlights the beauty of our state park, and artistic/technical factors.
Luke Sorensen (@lukecsorensen) won the category this year with his photo of fellow climber Jon King leading his way up Puckered and Tuckered 5.10c. Jon is climbing high above the Hudson River Valley while behind you can clearly see the Adirondacks and Green Mountains with 90+ mile visibility.
Other cool photos:
This photo below by park employee Michelle Johnston might be the most beautiful landscape photo taken here in 5 years of TCC work at Thacher.
This photo posted on Instagram of a sketch by Victoria Taylor (@vktaylor.creative) also caught our eye. While belaying at Horseshoe North Cliff many of us can relate to observing the beautiful ledge and sunset lighting that can illuminate trees from the west.
The photo below by Fernando Nunes de Barros (@fernandobarros) shows delicate moves on one of Thacher’s many difficult blank walls. Crimptogramma Stelleri 5.12a is the hardest climb on the Mahican Wall at Hailes Cliff South.
Dizzy Chicken and Indian Ladder Farms are providing gift certificates to the winners of this photo contest.
Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery is the perfect stop after a great day at Thacher with beer, cider and food for famished badass climbers like yourself. 
Dizzy Chicken’s locations in Glens Falls and downtown Saratoga Springs are the perfect stop for those going or coming back from a trip to the Adirondacks. For beer on tap go to the Dizzy Chicken in downtown Saratoga Springs. The Glens Falls restaurant is only a few minutes from Rocksport indoor climbing gym.
Thanks everyone for posting your photos and we look forward to climbing again in the spring! Use the hashtag #climbThacher on Instagram to highlight your photos. Connect to our Facebook Page or watch for posts here on our website announcing an opening date for the climbing season, the park is currently closed to climbing. To find partners for Thacher or local climbing gyms use the Thacher Climbing Coalition Facebook Group Page.