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WOW today sure felt like mid-March to me. Most especially around noon when it got sunny. The roof is dripping and the snow compacting as I watch. Of course it was still a short day, not like those "so much longer at last" late March ones that portend spring. I gotta say that the unexpected warmth and the sun on my face sure felt good after a string of low double and single-digit days and nights.
The good thing is that in spite of the higher temps during the day, it's going continue to be below freezing at night. That certainly should give a serious boost to the ice conditions, which have been decidedly hampered by a lack of flowing water - in spite of the rain we had recently. The rain really doesn't give us what we need. IMO the best ice is from the consistent freeze-thaw of warmish sunny days and below freezing nights. And for a while, that's what is in store.
This warm up is most certain not unusual. And like I said in today's video, I am optimistic. Based on what I'm seeing right now, we should be in really good shape soon. Keep those fingers and toes crossed peeps.
Ice Conditions Report:
Selected Ice Conditions effective January 8, 2026
When I was out taking pictures today I was happy to see that overall the ice is looking pretty darn good. Sure some things aren't in at this time, but overall there is ice to be climbed at almost all grades. Overall just be aware of the top outs and you should be OK. Enjoy...
Huntington Ravine
numerous options
Repentance
still building but not yet
Standard Route
GOOD
Dracula
IN & fat
For the full current conditions report, CLICK
HERE
MT WASHINGTON OBSERVATORY VALLEY WEATHER:
A weak cold front will shift eastward Thursday morning, followed by high pressure for the afternoon and overnight. Low pressure tracks northeast over Quebec on Friday, dragging a cold front towards the region for the afternoon and overnight. Thursday will start with clouds and a slight chance of a few flurries or freezing drizzle with the passing front. As the front exits, high pressure builds for the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will rise above normal by the afternoon, and the building ridge will allow winds to gradually decrease throughout the day. Drier air with the building ridge is expected to allow for a clearing trend to develop for the afternoon and evening. Thursday night, clouds will start to spread back in overhead ahead of an approaching cold front expected on Friday. Temperatures will fall below freezing; however, the increasing cloud cover will help limit overnight lows. Patchy freezing fog is expected to develop, which could affect visibility, and a thin layer of glaze ice could form on surfaces by morning commutes. Luckily, the ice will not last long, as a southerly flow will boost temperatures on Friday. The rising temperatures will result in rain. Rain will taper on Friday evening. Temperatures will drop back to around freezing, and this could result in icy surfaces as waterlogged snow freezes. Lastly, winds will be building through the day on Friday and into the overnight hours. By Friday night, wind gusts will be around 20 mph, with some areas seeing gusts closer to 35 to 40 mph.
MW AVALANCHE CENTER:
CONSIDERABLE - Triggering a large avalanche is possible today in wind-drifted snow and may occur naturally on southeast and east aspects. Avoid obvious drifts and any slopes where the wind has stiffened the snow surface.
MUSICAL NOTES
Guitarist Jarrod Taylor and I with be at The Wentworth Inn in Jackson tonight from 5:30-7:30pm playing tunes from the Great American Songbook and more. Then on Sunday The Jim McLaughlin Trio and I will be at ProTune in Glen on Sunday January 11th from 4-6pm. This will be the finish for the Fat Bike Festival that will be taking place all weekend. As always it's great beer and good people. We'll play funky tunes and fun jams.
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:
This weekend is the NEMBA sponsored Fat Tire Bike Festival. Rogers Crossing and Marshall have all be groomed on Wednesday and are riding great. I was out on Echo Lake on Tuesday and it was a real blast. Of course you will need studded tires, but that almost goes without saying. The base is really solid now and should hold up even through the light rain and warmup. Get it folks...
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
The Puking Gecko, Grand Wall, *** S9 5.12d/e 712m - An intimidating and salacious climb. The final pitch is so exposed, tricky, and continuously strenuous that it is impossible to even contact the rock at any point. Better than making passionate love on top of a Japanese Bullet Train. Superbly magnificent and grimly brilliant.
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.
