It came. It went. The event we've been waiting and planning for these many many months. I first heard about the EMS Nor'easter Festival around May of this year from the @EasternMntn twitter account, dutifully manned by Jim Darroch. It sounded like a blast: Music, sports, conservation themed - all green with TONS of vendors. A blast it was - made doubly so by the willingness of EMS to allow us to arrange a small tweetup the first night.

If there ever was an example of social media being used effectively by brands this is it. @Easternmntn has been talking (and I mean actually interacting) with me since January when Katie and I took their Three Day Mountaineering Course. I've been a loyal REI buyer for years, and a huge fan of Marmot, but ever since I started using twitter my image of the two has slipped a tad. It's not that there is anything wrong with their products or service - it's that they aren't "real." They don't talk back - they blast. They don't connect, they advertise. More and more of my money has been going to EMS this year, simply because I feel like they hear me when I speak.

What was just a festival became an investment for me. So here's how it went...

After 12 hour of driving, our caravan arrived in Loon Mtn NH. We registered and set up camp along the river. We were one of over a hundred tents set up in a makeshift city. I've never camped this way, and while crowded it was fun to be in the middle of all the action.

Friday night we met for the #NETweetup near the main stage. With bands like Rubblebucket playing in the background our small group met face to face for the first time. The party moved back to the camp ground and continued into the early hours of the morning, new friends bonding over Canadian beer. (Eh?)

Saturday morning we made the brave attempt to avoid the "crack of noon club" by leaving the campground at 9. We hit up IME in North Conway before finding the (sadly) soggy rocks of Cathedral Ledge. The group decided to bail and check out Rainbow Slabs - which included fording a river and bushwhacking. Honestly more of an epic adventure than I planned on, but why not? George lead "Face Dances" and belayed the rest of us up to see the view. The guide book says "Two pitches, easily rappelled with two ropes." False. As George crested the crux of the climb I yelled "15 feet of rope left!" To which he replied "WHAT?!?" I ended up climbing up about 30ft, trailing a rope, and belaying from a tiny ledge to give him the extra he needed to make it to the anchors. Next time we bring a 70 meter.

That night we visited the vendor village, made friends with Petzel and Black Diamond, and listened to Gaslight Anthem play to a glowing crowd. The weather was (cold) but beautiful and I couldn't have asked for better company.

Sunday morning we cracked out of bed and went to Rumney for American Alpine Club pancakes. I think now I'll have to suck it up and join. Who can resist warm chocolate chip pancakes? We set up a few climbs on Parking Lot Wall (all named coffee-type names) while Bill, Dave and AJ attended their clinics.

A drive back out to 93, an epic dinner at Whippi Dipp, and a few sad goodbyes ended an amazing weekend.

I can't wait for next year :)