Flume Cascade (WI2)
Crawford Notch, NH
When you can't get any ice lead practice in, the next best thing is to solo climb (for me anyways).
So solo climb I did, up the Flume Cascade, just up past the bulge on the right. Did expect to climb farther than 200 (?) feet. But lots of postholing, and finally a decision not to walk across on some f**king-scary ice (aka ice with very loud sound of rushing water under it) turned me back. Solitude and beautiful views. Will have to come back another day!
Followed the footprints up the right side of the cascade. Wasn't familiar with which side of the cascade the water flowed, so I studied a lot of photos of the falls that were taken in the summer/fall months. This gave me an idea as to which side to stay on, especially with the warm temps.
Got up to this bulge on the right. Climbed the low angle ramp to the left of it and found a level floor of ice with running water beneath it. That's when I decided to turn back.
Looking back. The grade was easy to climb. My main concern on this climb was to not fall through the ice and postholing.
Route 302 and the Trestle Gully on Mt. Willard
Mt. Willard
Some fast moving water!