Wavelength (5.8)
1,080 feet, 10 pitches
Whitehorse Ledge
North Conway, NH
May 2nd brought a fabulous day for a first multi-pitch rock climb of the season!
Counting the ‘walk-up’ to the Launch Pad, Sean, Tom and I
did 10 pitches today of The Slabs, Center of Whitehorse Ledge. We had blue
skies the entire day, climbed the 5.8 pitch listening to Presidential candidate
Bernie Sanders’ outdoor convention speech and met a “totally blind” climber on
his very first multi-pitch climb.
Our climbing plan; start on the Standard Route’s
direct route (Quartz pocket) and if it was dry, onto Wavelength, linking up
with the Sliding Board and finishing up on the Standard Route. Sean would lead
and Tom and I would second several of the pitches together.
Enjoy photos taken of our climb!
White Mountain Hotel & Resort with Whitehorse Ledge in the backgound
A little bit of snow at the base of the ledge
Sean leading up to "The Toilet Bowl"
Me on Sean's belay at the "Launch Pad"
Tom and I making our way up from the Launch Pad to the Toilet Bowl
A Piton at the "Quartz Pocket"
Tom finishing up the 4th pitch to the thread
anchor in the main arch. Sean on his belay.
Sean leading the 5.8 pitch!
Tricky pocket section! Great moves for a tall climber, as Sean demonstrates! My short-climber beta; right foot on base. Right hand on small nub. Left hand in lower pocket. All in one move: Step up with left foot to meet left hand in lower pocket. As you push off with right hand and step up onto left foot, bump left hand up to higher, bigger pocket. Match hands and bump right foot up to higher nub. Step up to a bolt.
Happy belayer!
Tom's turn on the 5.8!
Making his way up the face of the brown bulge.
Past the crux and on the dike to the anchor of the 5.8
You damn right I'm happy to be climbing Wavelength!
Making my way up to the anchor just
below the steep headwall of The Sliding Board
Tom's turn to make his way up to the anchor!
Protection along the steep dike through the headwall of The Sliding Board.
Removing pro
Final pitch
Also topping out - safe and sound (left to right) Copp, Tom & Paul
These guys went off route a bit and Sean let them know.
They made the route tougher than it really was and it was
pretty scary watching their lead climber taking a couple of falls.
George Hurley, who was at the base, yelled up
directions to where they were supposed to be.
Our belay and anchor stations along the route (yellow stars)
Photo: North Conway Rock Climbs Guidebook