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December 30, 2021
Hi Folks,
SHEESH it's only 2 days until the start of 2022. Considering everything that's been going on, it's been hard to come up with a new years resolution. I think the best I can manage is to simply do my best to savor every day. After all, who knows what tomorrow will bring. Although with the pandemic still affecting literally everything, and things aren't what we would all hope, it would be a shame not to take advantage of what life still has to offer, and it's a lot. What is your resolution? Do you have one?
I got a call from an old friend last week and we made plans to get out climbing today. He and I have climbed and/or ridden bikes at least once a year for many years. Unfortunately the pandemic and an accident on his end kept us from getting together last year, but we weren't to be deterred this one. With the Report having to get done today, plus my having to drive up to Greenville Maine tomorrow for a NYE gig, it was going to be crazy busy. But life is just too short to let this time get by us yet again. We did Upper Hitchcock and the big bulge to the right, both of which were great. It was a great day to be out playing in the snow and on the ice.
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/Martin.jpg
Tomorrow I'm heading up to Greenville Maine by Moosehead Lake for a NY gig. Let's hope that the rain that's in the predictions for the weekend is a lot less than they're saying, and that it chills down a lot next week. Stay safe and here's to a good 2022.
Mount Washington Valley Ice Fest is on the books for February 4-6, 2022. Stay tuned for website and registration updates, guest guide information, and party details. Plus, with any luck, there WILL be a party this year! If you have questions, call IMCS at (603) 356-7064.
VERY IMPORTANT - all attendees are required to provide proof of vaccination. No test results will be permitted. So, be sure to bring your card and picture ID, or you won't be able to participate.
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/CathedralLedge.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/myth.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/Diagonal.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/pegasus.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/standardRoute.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/dropline.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/dracula.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/Frankenstein.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/greatMadness.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/hitchcock.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/ReadBetweenTheLines.jpg
SOME LOCAL/NATIONAL PANDEMIC STATISTICS AND THOUGHTS:
Now more than ever we need to take care that we don't get sick. Every indicator points to the next 6-8 weeks being a difficult time in the process. Even tho you may be fully vaccinated, all 3 shots, we all still need to be aware that the virus is raging around us. And no one wants to be in the hospital at this time, if you CAN get into the hospital! I do not mean you should climb with fear, simply climb with a little more care than usual. At least that's my plan... Not soloing as much and being prepared to back off a little sooner than I would have in the past.
From NHPR on Tuesday -
Twenty-eight more Granite Staters have died from COVID-19 as of Tuesday, with 30 additional deaths on Monday! Nine of the deaths were from over two weeks ago, but were only recently confirmed. All but two were 60 or older. They are from: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire (2), Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough (5), Merrimack (3), Rockingham (10), Strafford (2), and Sullivan (2) counties.
New Hampshire:
15 new deaths reported
1,165 new cases reported
8,174 Active cases
386 patients are currently hospitalized
United States:
Confirmed: 53,663,256
Deaths: 822,920
Global:
Confirmed: 284,670,238
Deaths: 5,424,763
The Johns Hopkins COVID-19 tracking map:
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/us-map
I find JHU's Daily COVID-19 Data in Motion report to be very informative. It shares critical data on COVID-19 from the last 24 hours in a short 1 minute animated video format.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/covid-19-daily-video
OUR ONLY WAY OUT IS IF YOU GET VACCINATED, WHERE RECOMMENDED PLEASE STILL WEAR A MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS!
REMEMBER - WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
So I did get out several times this week. The first was a local ride out the back door that took me to the North End to play around a bit on the pillars. The ice wasn't great, but it was nice just to swing the tools. The second was a local loop that took me over to the cliff, back to Echo Lake, over through the woods to Birch Hill and back. And lastly a great ride yesterday on the Marshall Trails off West Side Road. This one was especially nice because the local NEMBA group had groomed the trails with their Sno Dog and temps were in the low mid-30's. The only down side was that I had to be cautious of the dog poop in the middle of the trail here & there. HIGHLY annoying! I'fe also heard that the the east-side trails are looking good as well and are on my list right after New Years. It's a good time to be out on the fat tire bike and I hardly even needed my studded tires. Go figure...
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/Bike_1.jpg
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20211230/Bike_2.jpg
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
| It lasted but a year of two, till all the routes were done. The pace so fast that most forgot that climbing could be fun. |
| John Sherman |
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