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Well in case you hadn't heard, there was a fresh round of snow overnight on Monday. It dropped 2-3 inches in the upper parts of places like Jackson Highlands and Tyrol, and even more above 2500'! Enough that the Mt Washington Avalanche Center even issued an advisory. Can you believe it? Mid May and somehow it still doesn't fully feel like Spring. [SIGH]
I see folks out climbing on cloudy chilly days and feel like it's similar to gardening... I'm getting pretty antsy about reseeding my lawn and getting my basil and tomatoes in the ground, all of which need consistently warm temps to be viable. I like climbing rock, but am more into nice warm rock!
That said I did get out last Sunday, tho it was cloudy. The Perez's and I went down to climb at Rines Hill in New Durham with George Hurley. I've been there many times before and it's a nice place to go in the summer. There has been climbing there for many years by locals as well as groups from Brewster Academy. Over the past year access has become a bit of an issue, but George has developed a new trail that seemingly avoids those issues. The new trail starts by some old wooden pillars on tree left side of Knights Pond Road about 200' from the gate. Basically follow flagging and some small cairns across the height of land to the cliff.
I led a new climb of George's just right of Dike Step that's probably 5.6 or 5.7. Probably 7 if you don't touch the two trees you go between. There is a possible direct finish up then final headwall, but it seems to always be wet. Even George admits that it does need a little more cleaning at the top. [WRY GRIN]
We also climbed Dike Steps, Groovy, Layback and Buddha. I've always struggled with the start of Buddah, but this time found the high side pull on the right that seems to be the key. It's pretty cool. While I hadn't had any ticks on me so far this year, I got several on the walk out and others did as well. We spotted quite a lot of deer-pellets so I suppose it's not surprising.
It looks as if the weather this weekend might actually be nice, so hopefully I can get out to climb locally on Saturday. Here are some pix from Rines Hill.
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
VALLEY CYCLING:
One nice thing about riding is that I can get out on my own pretty much any time it's not raining. Last Saturday I rode Evans Notch, which is now open. There is some snow on the sides of the road at the top, but the road itself is quite clear. Monday I got in a nice ride in the Marshall area. All that I rode is in great shape right now. I have been wanting to check out Bear Notch so I did that on Wednesday. The road is not open and there were DOT folks working on it near the top on the Kanc side. While the road was more-or-less clear, there are lots of humps and a few places where there were trees and branches overhanging the road itself. The DOT guys said that there was still a lot of work to be done before it's open, including digging out the rocks that were coming up through the humps! They also mentioned that it's on the list to be re-paved this summer some time. That's a good thing. Now I want to talk with them about Hurricane Mt Road... :-(
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
From Everest Base Camp, you can walk four hours and you're lounging on grass, drinking beer with trekkers. K2 stands absolutely on its own. The approach is hard. The base camp feels like the moon. The mountain itself looks utterly impregnable, and there's no easy way up the thing. And all this hits you between the eyes when you see it for the first time. It's like that famous Munch painting. You know the one—The Scream? Except, of course, you're the one doing the screaming.
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.
