The Railroad Cut - Mixed/Steep Ice Climbing

Met up with some folks for the Mixed/Steep Ice Climbing Clinic put on by the AMC-NH Mountaineering group. 

The Railroad Cut - Ice Climbing

 

Checking out the ice for climbing. Photo by @nunofsantos

It was a cold morning but good for getting some laps in while there's still ice in the area. For the most part, the ice here is still holding up. But some of the routes are baked/delaminated in the areas that get sun and hard and brittle in the shaded areas.

Railroad Cut, NH – Ice Climbing

Railroad Cut – Ice Climbing

SW4-Cheshire North Rail Trail

Keene, NH

So here we go again....another single digit day, but the addiction is strong and I couldn’t resist, yet again! Was supposed to be climbing the Auburn Ice Canyon but that got cancelled because the floor wasn't hard enough and there was only one flow up compared to the 4 we climbed on two weeks ago. So Kevin and I drove up to Keene, meeting Jeff on the way. Nuno and his son David was in the parking lot when we pulled in. Later George Adams came by and climbed with us. The low temps were really tough on my asthma and breathing. It went from 13 to 7 degrees in 3 hours. Plus, The Cut is like a wind tunnel and as the temps dropped, it got harder for me to climb. At the end of our day I felt exhausted, like I had felt when I hiked to Lion's Head the weekend before. But my exhaustion was due to the low temps. I did get in 4 climbs but could only finish the first two, my hands were so cold. Just a few photos of our day at “The RR Cut”.

Jeff checking out the climbs

Climbs are in, but it's gonna be brutal!

Jeff gearing up

Nuno setting up

Jeff up top, Kevin & George looking on

David

Nuno with David on is belay

Kevin

George

Jeff did a fine job on this flow but near the top, lost his right crampon

Kevin and I selfie....it's too cold to smile!

Kevin

George leading some real nice, thin stuff!

Railroad Cut, NH – Ice Climbing

Railroad Cut – Ice Climbing

SW4-Cheshire North Rail Trail

Keene, NH

Okay, so I know I said I wouldn’t climb on another single digit day, but the addiction is strong and I couldn’t resist! To add, it was windy so I actually thought that being within “The  Cut” would somehow give me some protection from the wind, but not so. And the ice was sooooo hard - not getting any purchase for my feet isn’t fun for this Hawaii Girl, I hate climbing on my hands and arms! But we did get a couple of climbs in, so I'll quit whining here. Just a few photos of our day at “The RR Cut”. 

Railroad Cut, NH – Ice Climbing

Railroad Cut – Ice Climbing 
SW4-Cheshire North Rail Trail 
Keene, NH 
AMC-NH Mountaineering Group

I got a chance to try out my new ice climbing gear and am extremely happy. Having the right gear made all the difference. I was able to focus on my technique and thus, got in a lot of climbing today! 

This was my second visit to the Railroad Cut and like the year before, I was amazed at the amount of ice in just this one spot! Railroad Cut is just that...a cut in the hill for a railroad passage. It’s part of the Cheshire Rail Trail located just off of Route 12 in Keene, NH. There are several railroad cuts throughout New Hampshire, but this particular cut has consistent ice. The day was overcast and even though a snow storm made a mess of my commute home, it was a great day for ice climbing! What better way for me to start my ice climbing season!

Railroad Cut – Ice Climbing

Railroad Cut – Ice Climbing
SW4-Cheshire North Rail Trail
Keene, NH
AMC-NH Mountaineering Group
AMC-NH Ice Climbing Clinic 

Today’s ice climbing clinic was full of info including gear info. I had the chance to try out some Petzl Quark Ice Axes and they proved to be a good choice for me. But the most exciting bit of key info I took home with me today was technique and I got to practice climbing without kicking. I also used existing hand holds to place my tools. 

I took the ice climbing clinic with Tom Sintros (amC Leader) of the AMC-NH Mountaineering Group. I’ve been an AMC member for two years now and this was my first AMC-NH clinic that I joined up for. It  was my first visit to the Railroad Cut and I was amazed at the amount of fat ice in just this one spot….glorious! Railroad Cut is just that….a cut in the hill for a railroad passage. It’s part of the Cheshire Rail Trail located just off of Route 12 in Keene, NH. There are several railroad cuts throughout New Hampshire, but this particular cut has consistent ice.

The area is in total shade and very cold so hot tea and a warm, down jacket (as well as chocolate) can add to the day’s fun. Top ropes were set up on 4 flows and I was able to make several climbs on 3 flows. It was a fantastic day and I met other AMC members and got tons of info from Tom as well as his co-leader George. George, by the way, is a wealth of information and put up all the existing anchors and bolts along The Cut. For more information on the AMC-NH Mountaineering Group, visit their website at http://amc-nh.org/committee/mountaineering/index.php 

Enjoy some photos I took of ice climbing the Railroad Cut! 

The Ramp (on the right)

Nick with Tom on his belay

 Jon with Don on his belay - George looking on

Ever wonder what the railroad construction crew

did with all the rock removed from the cut?

A lot of it went into a cut stone retaining wall

between the Railroad Cut and the Rt. 12 bridge.