White Mountain Report - 12/25/2014: Hi folks, My very best wishes to all of you all for a Happy Holidays. I would like to say that Santa brought us a sack of beautiful ice, but unfortunately that was not the case. What he brought was a real breath of Spring through the middle of the week and into the weekend. Weve had 2 days of drizzle and warmish temps, followed now by sun and temps in the upper 40s! If this was late march or early April it would be wonderful, but its certainly not what I had put on my Xmas List! I took a ride up into the notch after we opened presents this morning and unfortunately things werent good at all. While there was some ice still standing, there is a lot less than before. The river is really high up there and there is massive amounts of water flowing. Both upper cascades look like Spring, there is a big waterfall running right down the middle of Willies, and there are waterfalls on Cinema and Elephant Head. The temps are in the mid-40s here in et Valley and low 40s at the top of the Notch. The only good thing is that the predictions starting on Sunday are for much colder temps. With all this water in the system, hopefully the ice will form up in interesting places. At least thats my New Years wish. [wry grin] The Snot Rocket on Monday: The over weekend and first couple of days of the week were pretty nice. Temps at night in the 20s and days in the low 30s really helped top build the ice. I got out on Monday to climb with by old friend Paul Cormier and his 20-something son, Joe. Id been keeping my eye on The Snot Rocket at the top of Crawford Notch. I heard that it had been done on Sunday, so I figured I better grab it while I could and I was right. We got there around 10:30 and my fellow IMCS guide Max Lurie and his friend from EMS were already there, finishing it off. By the time we were geared up, they were rapping off so things worked out well. Paul led us up P1. Ive always gone up just right of the corner, but this time there was the best ice 20 to the right. I followed next and Joe came up behind. Then I took the upper oil;law pitch. It was quite nice climbing into the woods. There was a weird moment when I knocked a big hunk of ice loose above the top of the pillar. I was able to hold it in place while Paul and Joe took refuge behind the curtain. When I let it loose it came down right where Paul had been standing! WHEW… The rap off was a bit tricky with all the hanging daggers, but it was basically uneventful. At least we got in something of significance before the rains came. neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/SnotRocket_1.jpg neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/SnotRocket_2.jpg neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/SnotRocket_3.jpg 2014/2015 NECLIMBS FUNDRAISER DONE: Thanks to all who have contributed. If you havent yet contributed and feel so moved you can add more, and believe me it is appreciated. Just use the link below: neclimbs/index.php?PageName=donation_fundraiser As always you can make a donation via check or money order. Just make it out to NEClimbs and send it here: NEClimbs 92 Bow Lane North Conway, NH 03860 THANK YOU for your continued support... Instant Ice Report - 1: Rain and really warm temps have really killed what was building. I wouldnt trust anything in the upper elevations right now. Its going to be warm all the way through Saturday, not cooling down until after then. So honestly folks, I would use the weekend to do other things and see what happens by the middle of next week - before New Years. Im leaving IceCON at a 1 because the ice should reform on Mt Washington very quickly. Here are a few pix from this morning: neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/blackPudding.jpg neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/chia.jpg neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/standardRoute.jpg neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/willies.jpg neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/LHMonkeyWrench.jpg neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/SnotRocket.jpg neclimbs/wmr_pix/20141225/elephantHead.jpg More pix are on NEClimbs and Facebook. Mount Washington Observatory MW Valley Weather: Strong low pressure over southeastern Canada will drag a cold front through our area this morning, with gusty winds and rain showers giving way to peaks of sunshine by the afternoon. Temperatures will likely reach their maximum during the late morning today before the front pulls in colder air, with temperatures falling into the 30s by the late afternoon. Overnight skies will continue to clear out, with gusty west winds continuing. Winds will begin to decrease during the day Friday, with temperatures climbing back to above average readings in the lower 40s under partly sunny skies. Above average temperatures will continue into the start of the weekend ahead of a cold front looking to cross the area Sunday. https://mountwashington.org/experience-the-weather/regional-weather/mount-washington-valley.aspx NEClimbs & White Mountain Report Is On Facebook:Join us and hopefully LIKE us on Facebook. Ill try and post some interesting pix every Thursday and the latest Ice Report for your interest. Heres where you can check it out: facebook/neclimbs Mobile Version Of NEClimbs: If you have a smart phone handy, you can get to NEClimbs from anywhere you have cell service. While it doesnt offer every single feature of the site and its not an app, in mobile form, it does do a whole lot and is very useful. Here is the link to the mobile version of NEClimbs: neclimbs/mobile Remember - climb hard, climb far, climb safe and whatever you do have fun. Cheers, Al HospersThe White Mountain ReportNorth Conway, New Hampshireal@neclimbsneclimbs There are many days, but only one today. Live it… Al Hospers You have to stand for something, or youll fall for anything... Ben Sidran ================= If you find this Report useful, consider making a donation. I promise, its painless. Just click the link below. Any amount is appreciated. neclimbs/index.php?PageName=donation_fundraiser ================= ** PLEASE SUPPORT OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS ** Adventure Spirit Guides AMC Mountaineering Committee Bagels Plus North Conway Cathedral Mountain Guides Hyperlite Mountain Gear International Mountain Equipment International Mountain Climbing School Julbo Eyeware Mooney Mountain Guides New England Guides NorthEast Mountaineering SUGGESTED LINKS: mountwashington.org/weather -- Mt. Washington weather mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/ -- Avalanche Information americanalpineclub.org -- The American Alpine Club accessfund -- The Access Fund outdoors.org -- Appalachian Mountain Club Regarding This Newsletter: I have been writing this newsletter since 1997 and as of 2014 I have somewhat north of 1,200 readers. Since youre obviously reading it, I hope that you enjoy it. Please tell others about The White Mountain Report and the associated web site NEClimbs and feel free to email a copy to your friends. That said, do encourage them to subscribe, its easy. Simply click the link at the bottom of this page, enter your email address and away youll go. You will get an quick confirmation and the very next White Mountain Report. THE LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Rock & ice climbing are dangerous, blah blah. You can get hurt or even kill yourself, blah blah. All that said, you do it of your own free will. Everything in this Report is to be taken with a grain of salt and dont blame us if you get 1, 2 or even 3 pitches up some totally heinous route, in over your head and you fall and hurt yourself.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 19:16:00 +0000
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