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Every day I've been watching the ice disappear from Whitehorse and Cathedral, and from the fields and roadsides. It's going fast, and we don't even seem to get getting a mud season this year. It's as if it's evaporating into the air. I've been seeing cars parked at Humphrey's and hearing that the crowds are coming back to Rumney. It's a clear sign that Spring here, or at least well on the way.
I decided I'd better get on the stick and grab what may be the last ice climb of the year for me. I'd planned on climbing with a friend, but when that didn't materialize after taking my Thursday pictures I headed up to Frankenstein all by myself. From the road the right side looked doable, so I walked into Standard. The little gully on the right looked blue as did the pillar out the right of the cave, so I headed up. It was generally reasonable, tho if I'd been placing screws I'm not sure how great they would have been. There was one moment on a little steep bit at the top of the cave-pillar where my foot scraped off on a crappy bit of milk-ice. But other than that all went well. The trail on the walk off was a bit weird at times, but no biggie. It was a fun wind-up to what will likely be the end of my ice season unless I do a ravine day in the next week or two. Here's a few pix:
VALLEY CYCLING:
If you're willing to get out early a few of the snowmobile trails and Whittaker Woods can be OK. I can't wait for the woods to dry out so I can ride on dirt again. It can't happen soon enough for me.
FRIENDS OF THE LEDGES - 2018 FUNDRAISER
Friends of the Ledges is a volunteer organization dedicated to the stewardship of local climbing areas and to preserving the historical tradition of climbing in the eastern White Mountains of New Hampshire and Maine. Highlights from the past couple years include replacement of 93 bolts and partnering with the Access Fund on major trail work and the opening of Band M Ledge. Plans for the future include additional trail work at Cathedral Ledge and continued bolt replacement including a couple popular lines on Whitehorse Ledge.
Friends of the Ledges can't continue this work without your support and our early 2018 fundraising goal is $3,000. Please visit our website to learn more and donate:
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
Why climb? For the natural experience; for the danger that draws us ever on; for the feeling of total freedom; for the monstrous drop beneath you. It is like a drug.
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.
