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February 20, 2025
Hi Folks,
Well folks you wanted it, so we sure got it... SNOW that is! It was probably 10" here at Cathedral Ledge, more the further up the road you go. Of course there is more up in the Notches.
I personally know 3 people who have gotten avalanched out of the Dike in almost the same location. All have had some sort of injury. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here? I suppose it's possible.
Two Climber’s Assisted from Avalanche
Franconia, NH: At 12:15 PM on Sunday, February 16, 2025 the NH Fish and Game Department was notified of two climbers that requested assistance. The climbers were involved in an avalanche off Cannon Cliffs in Franconia State Park. A male and female climber had planned to ice climb the Black Dike climbing route and began to hike in at 8:00 AM from the Lafayette Campground Parking lot. Once the pair reached the base of the climbing route the snow gave away underneath them causing an avalanche. The male slid approximately 300 feet before coming to a stop and was partially buried. The female, who was uninjured was able to call 911. While on the phone with 911 she was able to locate her friend waving downslope. Eventually she was able to hike down to the male and offered assistance out of the snow. Though the male suffered injuries they were able to slowly self- evacuate toward the trail.
Members of the volunteer Pemi Search and Rescue Team were driven to the trail via snowmachine by a NH Conservation Officer and members of the Cannon Mountain Ski Patrol. Initial contact with the climbers was made by the rescue team at approximately 1:45 PM. The climbers were identified as Vincent Lapointe, 31, of Montgomery Center, VT and Zephi Friel, 36, of Concord, NH. The climbers were given a ride by snowmobile back to the awaiting Littleton Ambulance arriving at 1:52 PM. Though Lapointe suffered an unknown injury, he refused medical assistance and chose to be driven to the hospital by Friel.
Interesting chapter from Laura Waterman's new book, especially with the bit about the avalanche at the Dike!
https://www.summitjournal.com/blogs/scree/an-easy-day-for-a-lady
Here are some of the pictures from Thursday. For ALL of the pictures and full Conditions Report go to the Ice Conditions page.
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/CathedralLedge.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/Diagonal.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/Repentance_Remission.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/Unicorn.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/Frankenstein_Amphitheater.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/Frankenstein_RightSide.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/MtWillard.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/MtWillard_UpperTier.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20250220/LHMW.jpg
I'll be at the Majestic Cafe on Friday with guitarist Jarrod Taylor and drummer Tim Gilmore for 2 sets of trio jazz 7-9. Then on Saturday The Jim McLaughlin Group will be at Ledge Brewing for the Backcountry Ski event 7:30 start.
If you're interested you can always see my schedule here:
http://www.alhospers.com/?PageName=2
As of Thursday the Marshall and Rogers Crossing have not been re-groomed after the big storm. This hopefully will happen by the weekend. The warmer temps coming up should allow for a more firm and stable base. Stay tuned...
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
| Climbing for speed records will probably become more popular, a mania which has just begun. Climbers climb not just to see how fast and efficiently they can do it, but far worse, to see how much faster and more efficiently they are than a party which did the same climb a few days before. The climb becomes secondary, no more important than a racetrack. Man is pitted against man. |
| Yvon Chouinard |
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