I’ve waxed poetic about the multiple team-building and culture enhancement attributes of stand-up and improvisational comedy. But, I have to tell you, rock, ice and mountain climbing easily qualify as the outdoor cousin of stand-up.

This past weekend, I was joined by two Peppercommers for a three-day excursion in northern New Hampshire. On day one, Nicole Newby, Catharine Cody and this blogger ascended the nine-pitch, 1,200 ft. high White Horse Mountain (see pic).

The second day saw us attacking single, and multi-pitch, vertical climbs at Rumney (which is easily one of the top climbing destinations in the East).

We wrapped up the three-day weekend by summiting 6,288-foot Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeast.

Climbing is unique from other sports in many ways:

• It’s not competitive. Climbers support and even root for one another’s success
• It’s a body and mind cleanse. In addition to pushing one’s body to the absolute max, climbing demands total concentration. Hence, it’s impossible to think about a client putting their account up for review, a newly-hired employee going rogue or any of the business world’s other nasty little surprises
• One inevitably learns new, and interesting, things about fellow employees since, like comedy, the team experiences the highest highs and lowest lows at the same time.

In short, fellow climbers become quasi family members. And we bring back a new sense of esprit de’corps to the workplace. Nicole and Catharine have climbed with me previously, as have Peppercommers Deivis Baez and Matt Purdue.

It may sound scary, climbing is anything but (especially when one is led by Art Mooney of www.mooneymountainguides.com).

While comedy has been the catalyst that’s enabled us to win awards, forge a unique culture and attract the very best employees and clients, I believe climbing could achieve the same end result. As we say on the slopes, “Climb on.”