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A very happy New Year to you all. I truly hope you all had a wonderful holiday week, regardless of the affiliation. Or even any non-affiliation. Altho the weather was most certainly up and down, that didn't keep folks from coming up here and recreating. It was a very busy time for sure. I was very happy just to chill for a change.
I did manage to get out on Sunday for several hours of fun climbing close to home, over on the Cathedral Ledge North End. My old friend Martin and I got on Thresher and did some laps on several of the pillars. It was a real gas since I hadn't climbed ice in a year, due to some health worries. That is now under control... It is surprising just how easily I got my groove back, and just how much I had missed it. [yuge grin]
However, by mid-afternoon it started raining! And the rain and freezing rain continued through the night and on into Monday. Then the temps warmed up again and it was a mess! The river water level, which had been very low, really jumped up. And it rained later New Years Eve and that turned into slush for much of Wednesday. [SHEESH] And so here we are on Thursday and it's cloudy, chilly and windy. Let's hope that we get the colder temps that are predicted, 'cause I'm sure in a couple of daze we will have ice again.
Ice Conditions Report:
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
So here are some of the pictures from Thursday. For ALL of the pictures and full Conditions Report go to the Ice Conditions page.
MUSICAL NOTES:
On Friday January 3rd I'll be with the Jim McLaughlin Group at Big Day Brewing in Gorham from 6-9 for our first gig of '25. We have had some epic jams in the past couple of gigs so I hope to see you there.
VALLEY CYCLING:
I stopped by Rogers Crossing in Bartlett and Jeremiah from NEMBA was there grooming. he says that things are in surprisingly good shape and will likely only get better. The trails in Gorham are great as well. Studded tires are pretty much a requirement everywhere right now, so be advised.
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
Life is brought down to the basics: if you are warm, regular, healthy, not thirsty or hungry, then you are not on a mountain... Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall — it's great when you stop.
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.
