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MOUNT WASHINGTON VALLEY ICE FEST 2018:
In case you had forgotten, the 25 annual Ice Fest is coming up. Mark February 2-4 on your calendars and stay tuned. It's going to be a good one!
WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO DO:
I knew what I was going to see on my drive to the Notch this morning, even before it was light outside. It's been in the low to mid-40's all week and we had rain on Tuesday, so could it be any good? But of course I still harbored a hope that the stuff at the top of the Notch would have held on. Last week my hope included bringing my gear tho. This week I didn't even bother. The thing that was particularly evident as I drove up the road was that for all practical purposes there ws no snow on the ground, anywhere. In spite of light flurries coming down. Certainly not a good sign! A look over at what is usually the first place I find ice, the Texaco Amphitheater, was not promising. Only the glitter of a very little runnel on the far left side. [sigh]
I pulled into the Arethusa road and looked up at a totally barren Fang area. I don't think there was even a glimmer of ice. Driving along past Frankenstein was depressing. There was less ice this morning than there was last week! And that's not really saying a heck of a lot. It clearly wouldn't have been worth the effort to ride the fat tire bike down the tracks with my gear. Just like last week, the only thing even worth looking at was Snot Rocket, right at the top of the Notch. However the very bottom was missing, so that wasn't promising. I know that it's first pitch was done last weekend by master guide Art Mooney, but he didn't even try the column. As I understand it several people tried the Monkey Wrench but the top has no ice and the ground isn't frozen so there are no sticks! So sad...
Time to hike, climb rock if it's above 40 and ride the mountain bike. Unless you want to go up into the Ravines, those are the options up here.
Ice Conditions Report:
Selected Ice Conditions effective April 24, 2024
It's all over for 2023/2024.
Huntington Ravine
OUT
Repentance
OUT
Standard Route
OUT
Dracula
OUT
For the full current conditions report, CLICK
HERE
BAND M LEDGE ACCESS RESTORED:
Thanks to efforts by the Access Fund and Friends of the Ledges Band M Ledge in Madison, NH has been reopened to recreational climbing.
"Access Fund and Friends of the Ledges worked with the Coleman family to formalize a climbing management agreement that re-opens the access point and their portion of the ledge—from The Steps Area to Bandit Area—for recreational climbing. Access Fund currently holds a three-year climbing management agreement with the landowner, providing them with necessary risk management and insurance provisions that address the liability concerns that led to the closure in 2011. There is an option to renew the agreement when it expires in three years and assign it to Friends of the Ledges."
IMPORTANT - Please read the info on the site linked below so you understand the restrictions and new access point.
VALLEY CYCLING:
I've been riding my mountain bike most days while waiting for ice to form. All the trails are in great shape with no snow on the ground, and the riding has been great. Most of the trails on the East side have been leaf blown, as have some of the Marshall trails. The only thing to be aware of is that there are a very few icy spots here and there, but I find them to be very obvious. This picture was taken on the Shumway trail at the Marshall area on Wednesday afternoon. It was really sweet...
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
Each climber loses one finger or toe once in a while. This is a small but important reason for Polish climbers' success. Western climbers haven't lost as many fingers or toes.
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.
