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It’s incredibly amazing that we have gone throughout least 3 full ice-out episodes this winter. After 24 more hours of warm and drenching rain, over 2 inches Wednesday night, it’s hard to imagine things coming all the way back. I posted a video on Facebook taken of the Saco River this morning at 9AM. It looks just like the spring thaw that we normally see in late March! It’s over the banks into the field and the ice is banging on the bridge abutments. It’s incredible. I had to hang at the house until after noon, waiting for the fog to burn off so I could drive up into the notch to see what’s going on. And even at 12:30 the fog was too thick to see anything in the Valley.
When I took off I was skeptical that I would be able to see anything, so I was surprised when I got up near Sawyer River Road and all of a sudden it lifted, and for a bit was actually sunny! Needless to say I was surprised to see just how much ice was left after the rains, yet not too surprised to see the devastation. I’m not going to go into too much detail because you can look at the pictures for yourselves. I think that the reason things aren’t any worse is simply due to the lack of sun, It’s certainly not due to the temperature, ‘cause it was 52 at Elephant Head at 2 PM! SHEESH!!!
I don’t know how much rain they got up in the notch, but we got close to 2 inches in the last 24 hours. The Saco and Swift rivers are looking like something from the April thaws. At First Bridge the river was over its banks and coming into Hussey Field at 4:30 PM it’s expected to crest later. Stay tuned…
Ice Conditions Report:
Selected Ice Conditions effective March 27, 2020
The ice is done and I am no longer issuing reports. I had someone text me personally asking about the status of ice in the Ravines. Even if I know something, I am no longer going to answer those questions. IMO it is irresponsible to be climbing, other than maybe on a top-rope at this time. I know it's beautiful out there right now. I GET IT! But climbing is generally a group, or at least duo, activity. Everyone touches everything. And if I touch something of yours, that means I have touched everything that you have come in contact with for the past 14 days. I love climbing and the group dynamic as much as anyone, but climbing right now is simply not worth the risk. You simply cannot guarantee that you are 100% safe and put everyone in jeopardy.
Huntington Ravine
OUT
Repentance
OUT
Standard Route
OUT
Dracula
OUT
For the full current conditions report, CLICK
HERE
VALLEY CYCLING:
One day great riding, another a mess. After a lot of work by locals with snowshoes they were back to good, and now we’re back to slush. I got out Wednesday morning before the rains started at around 9 and took a quick lap around Sticks & Stones, with a side detour on a bit of Pillar To Pond. As I was coming back the rain started and now everything is fully SLUSH! I expect them to be that way at least until Friday, and maybe longer. Please stay off the trails until they, hopefully, firm back up.
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 some 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:
Al Hospers
The White Mountain Report
North Conway, New Hampshire
Profanity is about the best pro you'll get until the crack starts to narrow. Include doubles of profanity in the #6 to #8 range on your rack for this lead.
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.
