| Like reading the White Mountain Report every week? Why not get it delivered to your e-mailbox every Thursday? All you have
to do is subscribe. It's fast, painless, and best of all it doesn't cost you
a dime! |
| CLICK HERE... |
April 23, 2026
Hi Folks,
Since of course there is no ice season, I guess that there is no rush to get this out "on time..." But here itis! [LOL] So we have been on the weather roller coaster for over a week. But finally things have calmed down a bit. That said we really need rain. You won't find me complaining about an inch or two here & there, so by all means bring it on. I was talking to friends that live in the Denver area and they are in som deep doo-doo out there. No snow means no water, PLUS high fire danger. [YIKES]
There have been a bunch of incidents and rescues here in the Whites over the past week or so. The nice weather at the trailheads has lulled some folks into making bad decisions. Most recently a 61 year old solo hiker died while on a remote trail near Kinsman Pond. According to reports he was underprepared for much colder temps than were at the trailhead and 3-5" of fresh snow! And as is often the case there were some people in trouble on Chocoura and Lafayette... Let's don't be that person.
The various seasonal roads are starting to open up. This morning I saw that both Passaconaway and Bear Notch are now open. I rode the bike up Hurricane Mt Road yesterday, Thursday, and it is still gated and has not been cleaned yet. There are no trees down fortunately! Cathedral Ledge was gated on Monday plus Evans Notch, Jefferson Notch and East Branch are all still gated. I have seen conflicting reports about Mt Clinton Road.
https://trailsnh.com/roads
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20260424/CathedralLedge.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20260424/CathedralLedge_Diedre-Unicorn.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20260424/CathedralLedge_Mordor.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20260424/Whitehorse_1.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20260424/Whitehorse_2.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20260424/Whitehorse_2.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20260424/Whitehorse_SouthButtress.jpg
Surface high pressure will continue building in from the north while a broad trough rotates a pair of shortwave troughs through on Friday. A surface low pressure system will then develop over the eastern Great Lakes and track south of New Hampshire as high pressure crests overhead on Saturday.
Lingering low-level moisture and diurnal instability will leave a slight chance for rain showers this evening, though most locations will likely remain dry, with cloud bases just above the surrounding mountains this evening. Clouds will lower before midnight as diurnal instability fades. As the first of the shortwaves moves in towards daybreak on Friday, a few more isolated rain showers could develop Friday morning, with partly to mostly cloudy conditions continuing as low-level moisture associated with the shortwave lingers. The second shortwave will then swing in towards Friday evening, with the possibility of yet another round of isolated rain showers before precipitation chances taper before midnight. As surface high pressure fully builds in and the upper-level trough departs towards Saturday morning, skies will likely become mostly clear before midnight on Saturday. Surface high pressure will then crest and remain nearly overhead for much of Saturday, maintaining clear conditions in the morning with light winds as temperatures rise to more seasonable values for late April. Mid- and upper-level clouds will increase into Saturday afternoon as a developing surface low developing over the Great Lakes tracks southeastward off the Mid-Atlantic coast.
Northerly flow will keep temperatures below seasonal averages through Friday night. Combined with stiff winds over the same time period, this will result in wind chill values on exposed skin remaining close to, if not a bit below, zero into early Saturday morning. While conditions are anticipated to improve in the coming days, and though it may feel like spring at trailheads, winter conditions remain on the slopes and summits of the White Mountains. Please pack, plan, and dress accordingly for these expected winter-like conditions.
https://mountwashington.org/weather/regional-weather/mount-washington-valley-weather/
https://www.rainwise.net/weather/wdc
Firm, gray, refrozen snow increases your risk of long, sliding falls, so bring crampons, an ice axe, and the skills to use them. Time your travel for when surfaces have softened; above-freezing temperatures, sun, and low winds will help, however, softening takes time, and snow surfaces can refreeze quickly. Keep spring hazards like long sliding falls, open holes, undermined snow, and icefall in mind.
A section of the Tuckerman Ravine Trail through The Lip Area is now CLOSED to all use. This section extends from Lunch Rocks to the top of the Headwall where it meets the Alpine Garden Trail. Only this section of the trail is closed. This annual closure is due to the magnitude of the crevasses and undermining, along with the severe consequences of a fall in this area. (36 CFR 261.55(a))
More than half of the Sherburne Ski Trail has melted out and is now CLOSED below the yellow rope. Please help preserve the ski trail by removing your skis and walking down the Tuckerman Ravine Trail trail at the rope.
https://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/
No gigs this weekend unfortunately. Stay tuned...
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
The riding has been absolutely great with temps in mid 50's to 60's. I've been on the East Side, in the Marshall, up to the top and other trails over here in the Cathedral hood and on Thursday up Hurricane Mt Road and to Black Cap. It's all fantastic. There is nothing like it right now, moderate temps before the bugs come out!
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
| All ice is dangerous.
Grade 4 pillars are pumpy.
Grade 5 pillars are pumpy and dangerous.
Except for certain rare days of triple-high biorythms and favorable planetary alignments, grade 6 is beyond reach. |
| Dougal McDonald |
|
