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We got through the 2026 Ice Fest in fine style. From what I have heard it was most excellent, and tho certainly cold, not as cold as expected. YUGE KUDOS to Paul & Lisa McCoy, all the folks at IMCS and IME and of course all those volunteers for once again putting on a first class event. Unfortunately the Patriots didn't fare as well. But hey, you really can't complain about this truly unexpected season. Here's to next year, and for heavens sake sign Christian Gonzales... [LOL]
This week feels more like mid-March than early February. And frankly I will take it! Here's a pic of the Dry River Campground this morning. Probably a foot of new snow on the ground.
NOTE - Another car got stuck in the ruts on road down to the North end on Wednesday! Had there not been a bunch of folks to help out it would likely have cost $1000+ for a tow truck. Word...
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
FYI it was lightly snowing and cloudy so the pictures are dark today. Took some tweaking to get them useable.
MT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY VALLEY WEATHER:
An upper-level trough exits offshore Thursday morning as an upper-level ridge moves in Thursday evening into Friday. A pair of weak upper-level shortwaves tracks in from the northwest Friday afternoon and overnight.
Favorable upslope flow and lingering low-level moisture will keep the higher terrain in the clouds with scattered snow showers around Thursday morning in the wake of low-pressure exiting off towards the Canadian Maritimes. Very light accumulations are expected as shower activity will taper off through the morning with upper-level ridging and surface high pressure beginning to build in early afternoon from the west. The northerly to northwesterly flow will cause clouds to continue upwinds of the mountains, clearing to the south and east for much of the day on Thursday, as wind gusts up to 25 mph will continue for much of the day into the evening. By early Thursday night as high pressure takes hold, a clearing trend will begin over the higher terrain, with skies mostly clear through Friday morning. Fair weather skies will continue into mid-afternoon, before mid and upper-level clouds associated with a weak-upper-level shortwave pushes through the region. Lack of significant moisture with this system will allow for dry conditions to persist through the evening and overnight. As this shortwave exits, another shortwave will make its approach mid-night Friday ahead of a closed upper-level low swinging southward from southern Quebec, bringing increasingly cloudy skies.
MW AVALANCHE CENTER:
MODERATE You could trigger an avalanche today above 3000 ft on steep east and south-facing slopes. Look for snow blowing at ridgelines, drifts deeper than your boot tops, and large, pillowy drifts as signs of the avalanche problem. Traveling on hard and textured old snow surfaces will reduce your exposure to unstable snow.
MUSICAL NOTES
The trio played last night at Big Day in Gorham for a benefit for the MW Avalanche Center. There was a nice crowd and I believed that they raised some $$ to support their efforts. It was great to see Jeff and the crew. I'll be playing duo jazz with Jarrod Taylor from 3:30-6 at the new Hotel Indigo. Then we will be back at the Wentworth Inn in Jackson next Thursday 5:30-7:30.
If you are at all interested in what else is coming up with me musically, you can always see my schedule here: http://www.alhospers.com/?PageName=2
VALLEY CYCLING:
The groomed trails in the Valley are in great shape right now. Marshall and Rovers Crossing are excellent. If you want to get a little further out, the Coos Trail system in Gorham that you can access right from Big Day is also great. Get out there...
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:
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.
