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)