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I took a ride up into Crawford Notch this morning to clear my head and just to see how the foliage looked. I took some pictures, posted below here, and did a short video clip that's on Instagram and FB. Overall I would say that the colors are kind of dull overall and many things are damp.
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT:
If you drive down west Side Road, PAST Cathedral Ledge Road, look to your left before the open field which used to be the Lucy farm. There is obviously something going one back in there. My understanding is that this is going to be a new housing development. The property is owned by the folks who own the farmhouse directly across the road. These are clearly going to have amazing views of the Ledge. Fortunately they are not allowed to put an entrance on Cathedral Ledge Road itself. This is another example of all the development going on in the Valley. Next time you drive up into Crawford Notch notice the various new roads being cut on the left side of the road! It really is something...
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
Dracula
looking good
For the full current conditions report, CLICK
HERE
GUNS ETC::
If you haven't heard about the possible incident in Oregon at Smith Rock or what just happened on Wednesday evening in Lewiston Maine, below are links to news reports. Thankfully the former was caught before it turned to a tragic end, unfortunately the latter was not. I have a number of friends who live in the Lewiston area and this was terrifying. You think it "can't happen here", but quite obviously it can!
FREEZE//THAW - the VIDEO:
If you were at Ice Fest last year, you should have seen the initial version of this video and the panel discussion that followed. Below is link to the final video which IMO is quite amazing. It also features some very nice new video from local NEMS guide Matty Bowman.
SHAMELESS PLUGS::
This week will be a very busy one. Master jazz guitarist Peter Einhorn, perhaps my longest friend from the mid-60's, will be coming up from Woodstock for a special guest appearance with Mike Sakash and myself at the Majestic Cafe on Friday. Then guitarist Jarrod Taylor and I will be playing duo at the SnowVillage Inn for their 75th Birthday starting at 6 on Saturday. Sunday is a double - I will be playing jazz brunch trio with Jarrod and percussionist Tim Gilmore at Page Hill and then that evening with the Al Hospers Jam Band that includes Tom Robinson, Tim and Jarrod for the Big Day Brewing Halloween party on Sunday.
It would be great to see any of you out there for one or more of these events.
WEBCAM UPDATE::
For reasons I don't quite grok, it has been difficult to find someone to re-run my CAT6 cable from tree where the camera has resided for 10 years, into the house. The person who had done it previously went out of business during Covid and several people I've called only do "industrial" installations! [sigh] On Tuesday afternoon I had a meeting with someone who works on computers locally. While they won't do the cable run, they would be happy to terminate the ends once it has been run. If I can't find someone to do the whole enchilada, that option is on the table so stay tuned. I am still hoping to get it completed before the weather fully turns to winter!
2023/2024 FUNDRAISER:
The pesky Fundraiser for NEClimbs and The White Mountain Report is now in swing. Like every year for the past 15 or so, around the middle of October I ask all subscribers for a small donation. Tho I have been doing this since 1999, I haven't always asked for donations! That only started in 2004. But frankly without your support it would be very difficult to justify keeping this going like it is.
As you know, all year I put out our weekly White Mountain Reports on Facebook, Instagram and the NEClimbs web site. Usually only 4 issues of the Report, kind of like those NPR fundraisers, do I ask you for your support. Keeping you up to date with happenings in the Whites, providing the latest ice and rock conditions, reporting on events and people in the local climbing community and more consumes around 10 hours a week. That's not insignificant for anyone. And hey, I'm just like every other overworked semi-retired dude you know.
A $20 donation isn't a heck-of-a-lot, is it? Heck, that's just a couple of latte's at the Frontside! Don't wait to make YOUR contribution. and don't assume that others will pick up the slack. YOU are the one who signed up to be included on the mailing list! YOU read it every week, and I'm the one providing the service!
Please support NEClimbs and The White Mountain Report, send your check or money order for $20 now, OR make your contribution ON LINE via PayPal. It's easy & painless and you can use your credit card. Simply click the link below to make your donation...
http://www.neclimbs.com/index.php?PageName=donation_fundraiser
INSTANT BUG REPORT - 1:
I was out raking up the pine straw and pine cones this afternoon and there were a stupid number of mosquitoes in the yard. Who knew? And this is after a frost 2 nights ago. With the weather being warm the through the weekend I am sure they will stick around too.
VALLEY CYCLING:
I haven't ridden in a couple of daze, and from what I hear things are a little muddy in the usual spots, but generally OK.
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
It is to conquer fear that one becomes a climber. The climber experiences life to its extreme. A climber is not crazy. He is not out to get himself killed. He knows what life is worth. He is in love with living.
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.
