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November 16, 2023
Hi Folks,
There currently are a total of 50 donors to the fundraiser. I don't think I need to say any more than that... PLEASE contribute to 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 any credit card. Simply click the link below to make your donation...
Please contribute to 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 any credit card. Simply click the link below to make your donation...
http://www.neclimbs.com/index.php?PageName=donation_fundraiser
There were some issues last year with the Conway Scenic Railroad regarding access on the tracks to the Frankenstein ice climbs. Unfortunately this issue has NOT gone away, and is unlikely to do so. The reality is that walking on or next to the tracks is simply illegal. This issue is not unique to the climbing community. As I understand it, the local snowmobile club is no longer allowed to groom or use the RR tracks to get from Bear Notch Road to Sawyer River Road, eliminating one of their major loops! We will have to see how all this plays out. That said, clearly this is NOT a battle we can win.
Here are some first thoughts about dealing with these issues... If the trains are running, any time of year, DO NOT walk on or beside the tracks. You can access the Amphitheater via the Frankenstein Ravine Trail, starting at the back of the lower parking lot, and you will not be able to climb the trestle mixed routes or the trestle slab. Access to Standard Route and the other climbs on the right side of Frankenstein can be accessed from a trail that starts on the far side of the little bridge past the Standard Route view. It comes out almost directly below Dracula. Do not leave packs on or beside the tracks. Willies Slide can be accessed in the same way it always has been.
The Mt Willard climbs are going to be significantly more awkward. I am not sure how you would get from the Elephant Head parking area around the corner to the trail leading to LH Monkey Wrench, Lower Hitchcock or all the way around to Cinema. There has been a trail up to the base of Cinema from the pullout directly below it. I've used this on occasion and it's not horrible. HOWEVER if you climb Cinema, slog across the middle ledge and climb some of the routes around Upper Hitchcock, you cannot easily get back to your car. Having 2 cars would obviously help. Stay tuned... [sheesh]
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/RR_sign.jpg
There is no climbable ice in the lower elevations, and will most likely remain that way through Thanksgiving. People have climbed in Tucks, the Dike and a VERY thin Parasol Gully. Of course these all are problematic at this time... Here's a few pix from this morning in Crawford Notch.
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/ParasolGully.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/MtWillard.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/hitchcock.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/dropline.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/fang.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/flumeCascade.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/FrankensteinAmphitheater.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/Frankenstein_Right.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/standardRoute.jpg
I rode up Sawyer River Road Thursday. As always it was a good workout. I saw a few cars, the road was in good shape and was not gated. The last 1/4 mile was in the shade and snowy. Fortunately it wasn't ice covered.
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20231116/SawyerRR_2.jpg
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.
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
| 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. |
| Wanda Rutkiewicz |
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