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I lived in Boston for about 15 years starting in the early 80's. I moved there from New York, after living there for 6 years and I was used to running around the city day after day. In NY especially I would walk everywhere. It was nothing to walk from the East Side all the way over to the West Side in midtown with a bass guitar slung over my shoulder and a little amp in hand, running from session to gig. I was too poor to catch a cab, and besides I liked to walk. My feet never bothered me and my back rarely complained.
Now when I go to the city & just spend a couple of days wandering around I feel much worse than the old man I am. [wry grin] I am really into hiking these days. My son & I are out doing 3-6 miles or more almost every weekend. Even after a long hike with a reasonable weight pack on a rocky trail like the hike into the Ravines I never feel beat up the way I do after wandering around on city streets for a day. This Tuesday & wednesday we did a short family vacation in Boston and it was no different.. 2 days of walking all over the place on that god-awful concrete and my back is feeling terrible. It probably wasn't even all that far actually - how far is it from Chinatown to Berklee anyway? Regardless my feet & back were in pain Tuesday night. Heck, I can go out and hike all the way around Cathedral and Whitehorse in 90 minutes plus - about 3 miles - and feel fantastic. Not an ache or pain!
I like to visit the cities for the entertainment and food, but I think maybe I'll just stay here in the north country & leave the city to the city folk. Now if we could just get one of those restaurants in Chinatown to move up this way. I really do love the spicy fried calamari & steamed pea-pods. [grin]
An aside - tomorrow is Friday the 13th! B E W A R E
Ice Conditions Report:
Selected Ice Conditions effective February 19, 2026
Just as you would expect following Ice Fest AND a week of truly balmy temps, going to be upper 30's today, the ice can be a mixed bag. I saw someone post about how things are terrible. But digging into it, I realized they were talking about places like the North End that are very well used. It probably gets the most use of all. There are only a few places that have really easy access to moderate climbing and where you can set up a bunch of top-ropes. So that's not unexpected. And of course the climbs that are getting a lot of full sun are getting somewhat punked-out. On my way back from Wolfeboro mid-afternoon a few days ago I took a look at Rainbow Slabs which look as if they are getting pretty funky. And I watched a hunk of the bottom of Way In The Wilderness fall down! IMO it's really the time to start paying attention to what you're walking underneath, any time of the day. Enjoy this weather, but keep paying attention...
Huntington Ravine
numerous options
Repentance
iffy
Standard Route
GREAT conditions
Dracula
IN & very fat
For the full current conditions report, CLICK
HERE
Instant Ice Report:
All I'm hearing right now is whining about the lack of ice... I love ice climbing too, but it's hard to take with all these 60-65 degree days going by. I gotta say it - come on folks! This is like the dying person getting a second chance. The ice season will most assuredly be here soon enough, no question about it, but a last opportunity for a few spectacular days on the rock, on the trail or out on a bike are special here in the middle of November. Grab 'em while you can. You will cherish their memory on that -20 degree day in late January.
But now down to some actual info - While I know that late last week there were reports of folks climbing Odell's & Pinnacle, that's changed already. And not for the better. On Tuesday two friends, Steve & Todd, hiked up into Huntington, did the Huntington Ravine Trail, summitted and came down Tucks. According to them there was close to literally no ice left up there after the warm several days. Here's a couple of pictures if you don't believe me...
So, it doesn't look all that promising for Thanksgiving weekend, does it? We need some snow & consistent cold. I know it will come, but it ain't here just yet and it doesn't look too promising for the weekend either. [sigh] Stay tuned...
Mobile Version Of NEClimbs:
Up on one of the Mount Washington Valley's finest crags and want to know what that climb you're looking at is? Or maybe you're on your way up from Boston and want to check out the Ice Report for your upcoming weekend plans. Or more likely, you're at work just want to daydream about your next adventure. Well if you have a smart phone handy, you can get to NEClimbs from anywhere you have cell service. While it doesn't offer every single feature of the site and it's not an "app", in mobile form, it does do a whole lot and is very useful. Here is the live link to the mobile version of NEClimbs:
Check it out and if you have issues on your specific phone, please feel free to let me know.
NEClimbs & White Mountain Report On Facebook:
Join us and LIKE us on Facebook. I'll try and post interesting pix every Thursday and the latest Ice Report in the season, tho certainly not the whole Report. Here's where you can check it out:
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.
