Quincy Quarries - Rock Climbing

Fantastic day for rock climbing! Originally this Boston Rock Climbers 40+ Meetup was scheduled for 10am but we met up at 1 in the afternoon when the rain clouds had moved out giving way to the sun. Quincy Quarries is located just outside of Boston and an easily accessed from Interstate 93. Today was my second visit to QQ, my first being 2 years ago, and I was eager to do some urban rock climbing on walls filled with graffiti.

Two routes were set up on the 45 foot C Wall - Ceaseless Turmoil  (5.7/.8) and Yellow Spot (5.4-5.5).  We rappelled from the top to belay from the waters' edge. Afterwards we set up on F wall and a few of us climbed Friction Pitch (5.2-5.3). F wall is a taller wall - 85 feet, and was a blast to rappel to the bottom ledge. Climbing later in the Fall afternoon allowed for some beautiful light to photograph! 

At the top of C Wall, E & F Wall in the background

 Ken at the waters' edge

Climbers on the E Wall

 Boston and I-93

Doug setting up anchor 

Kristina and Ken setting up anchor

Kristina rapping down Yellow Spot

Graffiti at the bottom of C & D Walls (2)

Doug on Yellow Spot

At the top of F & G Walls

Ken on F Wall

Kristina on F Wall

Me on the F Wall - I had the chance to climb using

my Keen Newports H2 which, surprisingly, provided
good traction! They were fine for rappelling too!

On the slabby portion of the F Wall

Graffiti on the F Wall (2)

Artist's Bluff - Rock Climbing

Headed out to Echo Crag in the Franconia Notch this morning for some rock climbing! The sun was out  but Echo Crag was an ice block so we drove across the street to Artist's Bluff. We parked in the parking lot of the Echo Lake State Park and hiked the 10 minutes to the base of the cliff. Artist's Bluff was just the opposite of Echo Crag. It was sunny, windless and mild. The rock faced the sun and was not icy or wet at all. Personally, I didn't think it was too cold at all. Ropes were led on the Standard Route as well as the Right Side Route. We eventually had 3 ropes set up on the Standard Routes for top roping.

After climbing, Sally and I headed to the top of Artist's Bluff. The Little Monalisa cliff was packed with a group of climbers and there were many hikers making their way from the top of Artist's Bluff as well. This is a very easy hike to the top and with excellent views and once at the summit (2,320ft), I took a couple of photos. The views of Franconia Notch were stunning with fall colors. While the summits of Cannon, Flume, Liberty, Haystack, Lincoln and Lafayette were covered in snow! It was such a gorgeous contrast.

Franconia Notch from the Artist's Bluff summit (2)

Firefighters Rescue Exercise

Another climber setting up anchors at the top...

...Pretty anchors

My climb up the Standard Route (2)