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May 24, 2024
Hi Folks,
Mid 80's on Tuesday, right at 90 degrees on Wednesday and upper 80's on Thursday! We do on occasion get these kinds of fluctuations in weather & temps, but they are absolutely getting more prevalent. But honestly, can it really be that it's already Hotter Than July?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep54oygyLl4&list=PLDo07Ios8tCD7n7hx53Pedgov1XrORxHY
Welp it sure feels that way! I was riding through Echo Lake a few daze ago and stopped to chat with the rangers doing some cleanup. There are trees and debris still down across the trails and generally everywhere. Plus the lake is VERY high now. Probably higher than I've ever seen it. The ranger said that basically there is "no beach" right now! Go figure.
I've mentioned before that I was gone for 2 1/2 weeks at the first of April, right after the big wet snow that we had. And there are still trails with trees across them and piles of debris alongside the roads. I have gone down to Boston 2x over the past couple of weeks and have noticed how many trees are down on the sides of the roads. It's quite something... At least most of the bike trails are rideable now.
Several years ago, after the last of our aunts passed away, my sister and I were chatting about how another of the chapters in our family history were gone. I opined that all of the "old ones" were gone. She replied that now "we are the old ones", and I guess that is even truer now...
I was chatting with a couple of old friends last night and brought up several Boston area climbers I haven't seen or heard about for some time: Bill Atkinson and Will Crowther. I figured that both had to be well into their 80's, or even perhaps older. It turns out that they both are still alive and kicking, much like my dear friend George Hurley. I know most of you know who George is, but for those of you who don't know anything about Will or Bill, check out these links:
Bill Atkinson - https://atkinsopht.wordpress.com/
Bill Atkinson isn't known for putting up routes. He was an engineer, climber/mountaineer, prolific writer and very involved in the Boston AMC. Many of his articles documented much of the New England climbing history. I urge you to read some of his stories on his web site.
Will Crowther - https://www.mountainproject.com/search?q=Crowther&type=routes
Will, on the other hand, was a computer programmer, climber as well as accomplished spelunker. His programming accomplishments include a lot of seminal work on ARPAnet, the precursor to the modern Internet, and the text based computer game Adventure. Some of his climbing first ascents some of my favorite climbs, including Arrow, Hawk, Moonlight and Senté at the Gunks as well as Wedge and Sliding Board on Whitehorse.
A very few days ago, on May 21, 2024, 46 year old Lee Hansche was involved in a tragic accident while setting routes at Vertical Dreams climbing gym. I have not yet seen any details of exactly what happened. I didn't actually know him personally, but from what I understand he was a very very good person who touched many people.
Lee Hansche accident
I've been holding back on increasing the Bug Rating but not it's finally popped! Sitting outside last night there were no bugs, but 5 minutes moving brush around in my yard this morning has changed my view. The black flys are out there in force. So please be advised that bug dope is now de rigueur! You have been warned!
This Saturday, Memorial Day weekend, I'll be playing with the Jim McLaughlin Group for the 200 year celebration of the town of Randolph. There are 2 bands and a lot of stuff going on. The first band starts at 1pm, and we play from 3-5. The address is 11 Coldbrook Road, at Bradley's Farm near Durand Road. Go for a climb at Mt Forest and then come out and enjoy the afternoon/evening.
http://www.neclimbs.com/wmr_pix/20240523/Randolph_Jim.jpg
There are still trails with debris here & there, but overall things are good. Even many of the downhill trails off Hurricane Mt Road are looking pretty good. I've done several on the east & west side and feel as if things are moving in the right direction. Interestingly enough, the water level in Echo Lake is amazingly high, even intruding into the encircling trails - plus the beach is hardly even there right now! SHEESH
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 |
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