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And we have yet another roller coaster ride of weather this week folks! On Tuesday night we had snowy-slush and freezing rain, turning into a sunny warm day on Wednesday with temps in the mid to upper 40's, and today - Thursday - it's cloudy and dreary with temps in the mid-40's again. It's the classic January thaw! It would be great if we had a week where the focus wasn't on the weather, right?
I don't have a lot to say this week, other than as soon as it cools off, get out outside...
ICE FEST 2017:
Don't forget that the 2017 Ice fest is coming fast, February 3-4-5. If you've been to one, you know just how great it is. If not, you owe it to yourself to come out and enjoy the festivities. There are clinics, events, presentations, demo gear and just the feeling of being a part of a fantastic celebration of the ice climbing sport that we all love. For the latest information, check out the blog here:
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
Here's a few pix from this morning. They are on the dark side because of the clouds and fog. I think you can get the idea tho...
VALLEY CYCLING:
There has been some really great riding on the trails here in the Valley this winter. At least in places where the "bare boot" folks don't go. By bare boot I mean the walkers/hikers/dog people who walk on soft trails without snowshoes! If you're a skier you know what I'm talking about too. Let's just say that it's a major drag to go out to one of your fave trails and find deep shoe prints (aka post holes) all over the place. making it unrideable. One of my favorite rides in the winter has been the Swamp Trail at Hemlock Land, behind Walmart. However when I went over there 2 days ago it was unrideable due to all the footprints everywhere. Fortunately a friend had mentioned that the "Cheater Trail" was in great shape. This is a trail that I have been calling Chutes And Ladders because off all the cool bridges. It's located off the logging road/snowmobile trail that runs past the Redstone Quarry. In the summer we use it as a somewhat easier way to get up to the Outer Limits. As of pre-warmup it was in amazing shape and in fact the pack-out continues up to Outer Limits! If you're looking for a fun ride on your fat tire bike, this is the one.
NOTE - if things are at all soft and you see any ruts from your tracks, don't ride these trails. Let's keep them in good shape.
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:
Remember - climb hard, ride the steep stuff, stay safe and above all BE NICE,
Al Hospers
The White Mountain Report
North Conway, New Hampshire
I had the unique experience the next day: placing sixteen bolts in a row. It was just blank and there was no way around. But it was a route worth bolting for, and after a time I began to take an almost perverse joy in it, or at least in doing a good job.
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.
