Petzl has announced a recall of certain batches of NOMIC (U021AA00) and ERGONOMIC (U022AA00) ice axes due to a risk of breakage at the handle that could cause the climber to fall. The Petzl warning advises climbers to stop using the affected ice axes immediately and contact its customer service department for a handle replacement. Please refer to the English version official recall information for full details. Includes: technical details, products impacted, how to submit a recall and FAQs.
OK OK OK - I stand a bit corrected. After the meltdown we went through and in spite of the longer days and the stronger March sun - some the ice in some places has kind-of come back. In fact to the extent conditions looks a bit like they often do in the very early season.
AVALANCHE DREAMS: A Memoir of Skiing, Climbing and Life
Louis Dawson describes his life in six sections with each one representing a different era of his life. The forty-three short chapters flow smoothly and keep the reader wanting to explore one more episode at each reading.
I was damn glad I was with George. He was solid. I told him of my confidence, and he replied that he felt the same way. I might be lousy on 5.10, but he reckoned I had a high survival potential.
—Chris Jones
Tom Laskey just right of Hitchcock on a sunny 35 degree March day.
right side of Mt Willard
Selected Ice Conditions effective March 26, 2026
It's hard to tell what's actually climbable out there and what's not right now. Honestly, it's the time of year when things are just constantly changing. For the most part you'll just have to get a very early start, go somewhere & hope for the best. Sure some climbs will be more likely hanging around a bit longer, but it's questionable. And YES, today's pictures are from Wednesday because the predictions were for chance of rain or light snow on Thursday. And of course it's not doing either...why am I not surprised?
Huntington Ravine
numerous options
Repentance
OUT
Standard Route
possible
Dracula
still in
For the full current conditions report, CLICK
HERE
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One Of Our Articles: Getting Your (Ice) Rack Together
Ice racks are personal, like fine cars and wives. Every climber's rack is different, and putting one together can be as easy or as complicated as you like. Here's a few tips on putting one together that will do most of what you'll need here in New England.
Climbing is a very dangerous sport. You can get hurt or even kill yourself. When you go climbing, you do so of your own free will. Everything on this site is to be taken with a grain of salt. Don't blame us if you get up some totally heinous route, in over your head and fall and hurt yourself.