NEClimbs - information for New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont rock and ice climbers
IceCON 1. Climbs just coming in or only in upper elevations like Ravines.
1 out of a possible 5
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December 21, 2017

Hi Folks,

After a couple of fairly mild daze, last night we slipped into the deep freeze. When I got up at 5 to go to the gym it was a very chilly 10 degrees. Then, 1 1/2 hours later when I stopped back at home to pick up my camera to go take pictures it was up to a balmy 13! Up in the Notch at 10:30 it was sunny but a bit on the breezy side and down to 11. I'd planned on doing some climbing, but that's a little cold for my old bones.

It was a warm day on Tuesday and I did get out to Frankenstein with Brad. There were a surprising number of cars in the lot and we saw multiple parties on Standard and Dracula. We climbed Standard Route from the base all the way to the upper tier, then to a tree left of the upper curtain and then I led the only one of the curtain pillars that looked OK. As always it was very thin at the top and was a bit spicy getting to the big tree. I wouldn't recommend it, but that's just how my season is starting off this year - spicy...

On the good side of things, the ice is finally getting fat. I'm expecting that by the next time I get out I will be able to use my original Petal Ergo tools that I totally love, with the new picks. WOO WOO.... I can't wait. I've pretty much beat the picks on my X-Dreams 'till they aren't usable as picks any more. [wry grin]

Here are some pics from that morning.

http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Standard_Al_1.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Standard_Brad_1.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Standard_Al_2.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Standard_Brad_2.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Standard_Mike_Josh.jpg

Check for other pix on the web site and FaceBook.

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!

http://www.mwv-icefest.com
Ice Conditions Report:
Selected Ice Conditions effective December 26, 2024
We sure made a big jump in the state-o-the-ice in the past few days. While things are a LOT better, they aren't fantastic quite yet! But if we hold to this warmish-days and cold night pattern we are in right now, things will be really happening by early next week. You know things are on track when you actually see the Frankenstein Amphitheater looking good!
Huntington Ravine ther eis ice BUT avalanche danger  
Repentance OUT  
Standard Route looks good overall Click to see route picture.
Dracula looking good Click to see route picture.
For the full current conditions report, CLICK HERE

http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Diagonal.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Unicorn.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/CathedralLedge.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Repentance_Remission.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Frankenstein.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Fang_area.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Dropline_Machine.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/SnotRocket.jpg

Check for more pix on NEClimbs.com or FaceBook.

VALLEY CYCLING:
The fat tire bike riding in the Valley has been very good over the past couple of weeks, and it just got a whole lot better. The trails in the Marshall Conservation Land have been groomed by the local NEMBA group and they are fantastic. You can ride Lucille's, Upper Shumway, The Muzzy Trail, Red's Trail all the way to High Street and several other fun extensions off of Red's. I highly recommend it.

http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Bike_1.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20171221/Bike_2.jpg

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http://www.neclimbs.com/index.php?PageName=donation_fundraiser

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Thank you once again for your support...

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:

http://www.neclimbs.com/mobile

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:

http://www.facebook.com/NEClimbs/

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.
Royal Robbins, Tis-sa-ack ascent
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