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So many things going on right now so I'll just let them all tell the story by themselves this week. ;-)
TWO UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS AT THE POPE MEMORIAL LIBRARY:
109 Below with Joe Lentini - Tuesday, January 21, 6:00pm
The third presentation of this fascinating program. RSVP and save your seat to see the film and hear more about Mountain Rescue in NH.
Author Ty Gagne and his new book The Lions of Winter, the author of The Last Traverse
The compelling story of two young climbers who lose their way in extreme winter weather on Mt. Washington in January 1982. Their ordeal, the grueling four-day rescue attempt by a tireless group of determined volunteers and death of Albert Dow have become landmarks of White Mountain history, ushering in a new era in the search and rescue community of New Hampshire.
BLUE ICE SCREW RECALL:
YIKES - Tho this seems to be for screws only sold in Europe, needless to say this is a REAL DRAG. A number of friends have switched to this brand over the past year or two. If you have switched, at least check the batch numbers of your screws.
UPDATE ON FRANKENSTEIN ACCESS:
From the Friends Of The Ledges - This great alternate approach to Frankenstein was recently brought to my attention and I just wanted to share it with you all. It’s faster and more direct than the Frankenstein Cliff trail, and still allows one to stay off the tracks for a good section of the approach. It’s so fast it might even be faster than walking the tracks!
Start out from the lower lot and hike straight, past the outhouse, crossing a dry stream bed. As this trail starts to bend back towards Route 302, there is a small sign for the Frankenstein Cutoff on the left, take this, it is a blue blazed trail. You can follow it to connect with the Frankenstein cliff trail, and then gradually contour up towards the tracks. You’ll pop out beside the tracks at a small cairn, within sight of the trestle.
Also wanted to let everyone know that on the days when the train comes through (Saturdays, Sundays of MLK and Presidents weekends, and February vacation week) it does so at around 11:30am and 1:00pm. Pretty much right in the middle of the day, so it should be fairly easy to avoid being on the tracks when it comes through. However there have also been a fair number of maintenance vehicles passing by on random days/random times.
Ice climbing in Crawford Notch is in full swing, and I’m noticing tons of trails broken out to avoid the tracks, and folks being really aware and courteous out there — Thank you all so much! Our ice climbing survey will be up soon, hoping you’re all getting ready to share it far and wide!
Selected Ice Conditions effective November 27, 2025
There is minimal snow up in Crawford Notch. The pictures below are from Wednesday. While I drove through the notch today, I didn't bring a camera. However there is substantially less ice up there than there was yesterday. Mid day Wednesday it was 46 degrees at the Dry River Campground and 41 at the Highland Center. It rained a bit overnight as well. Today it was 40 at the Center! I have seen some great pictures of Pinnacle Gully from earlier in the week, but none from yesterday or today. That said, things will most certainly get better as the weekend goes on.
Huntington Ravine
UNKNOWN
Repentance
OUT
Standard Route
OUT
Dracula
OUT
For the full current conditions report, CLICK
HERE
Here are some of the pictures from Thursday. For ALL of the pictures and full Conditions Report go to the Ice Conditions page.
MUSICAL NOTES:
Friday January 18 I'll be at Pro Tune Bike & Ski shop with the Jim McLaughlin Trio, then on Saturday January 19th with the Jim McLaughlin Group at Tuckerman Brewing in Conway Village from 4-7. Please come out friends.
VALLEY CYCLING:
Trails are all great right now. That said, studded tires are a requirement everywhere, so be advised.
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.
