Bald Knob - Solo Hiking

Pano photo of Lake Winnipesaukee from Bald Knob

Bald Knob (1,801 ft)
Trails: Turtleback Mtn & Bald Knob
Mileage: approx 6.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

What a great day for a hike! Didn't realize there was another trail to Bald Knob until I met Larry DeGeorge at the trailhead. He said there is another trailhead along route 171. It's unmarked and on private property, but hikers are allowed to use it. Next time I'll try that way! The trails were muddy and slushy, especially on the hike down. I didn't bring snowshoes, as I didn't think I needed them. I did pack microspikes but didn't need those as well. Enjoy some photos taken along my hike.

Leprechaun's Lement (WI2-3) - Ice Climbing

Pano photo left to right: LL gully, LL slab. Hanging By A Moment

Leprechaun's Lement (WI2-3)
Kinsman Notch, North Woodstock, NH

The last of this season ice climbing for me....so I was glad I got to get in one lead. Like the past weekend at Arethusa Falls and weekend before that at Waterfall, we had the ice all to ourselves today. Overcast skies were sure promising and when we got to the base of Leprechaun's Lement, we were glad it was in the shade. For the most part, the slab was clear of snow. (below the base of LL lay the snow that had slid of the LL slab). 

John led the Leprechaun's Lement Gully, then we rapped down into the vertical section of the slab where we did a couple of laps. We also did a couple of laps on the Hanging By A Moment. And finally, in the late afternoon, I led the Leprechaun's Lement Slab. I led the center since I had only led the left hand side of the slab. The ice on the first half of the route was really still good. But by that time the clouds lifted and the sun had shown through baking the top half of the route. And after the half way point, the ice was just pure shitty. So I only placed pro up to the half way point and ran it out to the tree anchor. I could've put one more piece of pro in if I just scraped the shitty ice off of the top layer. But the grade was easy, I felt good, calm and not pumped and made sure all my sticks and feet were solid. Enjoy some photos taken of our day at Kinsman Notch.

Arethusa Falls (WI3-4) - Ice Climbing

Pano photo of Arethusa Falls

Arethusa Falls (WI3-4)
Crawford Notch, NH

Beautiful bluebird day for some spring ice climbing! John and I checked out Walk In The Forest and it wasn't looking good. Most of it was in full sun and looking really baked (scary). I suggested we check out Arethusa Falls so we back-tracked along the railroad tracks and headed up the Arethusa Falls Trail. The 1.5 mile trail was well-packed and there were some hikers already coming down. They confirmed solid ice and no flowing water like John and Phil had encountered couple weeks prior. Like Waterfall (WI3) the week before, we had the falls all to ourselves. But there were many photographers, hikers and their dogs who came to the falls while we were climbing. John did a fantastic job leading up the left-center. At the start the ice was solid. But at the middle there was a lot of snow and about 3/4 way the ice was pretty bad, but under it was solid. The flowing water in the center definitely caught my attention. At the top and off to the right, is a tree with a large red webbing  around it. John set up anchor and we rapped down from here. 

Great job sending Arethusa Falls John and thanks for another mellow day of ice climbing!

Waterfall (WI3) - Ice Climbing

Waterfall (WI3)
Frankenstein Cliffs, Crawford Notch, NH

Great conditions, mild temps, no wind makes for a great climbing the last day of winter! John and I climbed the Waterfall route - had this area all to ourselves. Mellow day of climbing for sure!

Left Hand Monkey Wrench (WI3) - Ice Climbing

Got to the base of the Left-Hand Monkey Wrench and I started up the ice. 
I hadn't even put my first piece in yet when my belayer kept asking me if I knew what I was doing. 
From then on I didn't want to even be there climbing with her. 
Near the top of Left-Hand Monkey Wrench, I stopped and made the decision to back off.
So I downclimbed while removing my pro.
I'm so glad I quit when I did.
Better safe than sorry!

Lesson learned!
Having a lead belayer who starts doubting you (out loud) as you're climbing, is no fun to climb with - it also says a lot about their own lack of confidence. Before I go out on a climb, especially a multi-pitch climb, I always make sure I'd be comfortable on that grade and with that climber. If not, I don't go. And if I'm leading, I always ask my belayer if they are comfortable lead belaying me on a climb. If not, I don't go.

Leprechaun's Lement Gully (WI2) - Ice Climbing

Leprechaun's Lement Gully (WI2)

Thanks for the belay, Ken!

Usually when I shut off my truck engine, the headlamps automatically turn off. But not today. Had to make a trip back down to the parking lot to turn them off. If you ice climb at Kinsman Notch, you know that very steep approach well. Great warmup hiking the approach twice, fer sure. But would have rather spent the warmup actually climbing. But my truck - she started right up. ;)

Met Ken and Dominique for some mellow climbing at Kinsman Notch. Ken thought the ice might be thin from the thaw, but the conditions were really good!  I thought it would be crowded but we had the climbs all to ourselves. Counting the three of us, plus a solo climber, two parties of 2, and a guided group, there were 18 total at the crag today. At one point we even left our rope hanging on the Leprechaun's Lement route and went to check out The Beast. Enjoy a few photos taken of our day.

Dominique on Leprechaun's Lement (left) and Hanging By A Moment (right).

Ken on Hanging By A Moment

This solo climber made his way up Hanging By A Moment. He climbed up to the trees, then rapped down. Then climbed back up to the trees on a solo belay.

Met Sharon and Don. Sharon is a new ice leader too! 
Look at her go! Yay Sharon!

We checked out The Beast - looking good!

From the base of The Beast

Leprechaun's Lement

Selfie

Flume Cascade - Solo Ice Climbing

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!

Lost In The Forest - Ice Climbing

Lost In The Forest
Frankenstein Cliffs


A frigid cold, but fun day at Lost In The Forest! Met Ken, Zarina and Tim for a cold day of cragging.  - 4 in the parking lot at the start of our day. I got in a couple of top rope laps; some solo-climbing on short, low-angle ice; some downclimbing practice; and some anchor building. So good to be back climbing at Frankenstein Cliffs and looking forward to coming back during the ice season!

We think think that's Art Mooney at the top of Chia

Leprechaun's Lement (WI2-3) - Ice Climbing

Thanks for the belay, Ken!

Great to get out on the ice for the first time this season - a meetup event at the Kinsman Notch in Woodstock, NH. Just got a couple of top rope laps in but my last climb of 2016 was a lead on the fun & easy, Leprechaun's Lement. Ken Domino on my belay.

Mount Monadnock - Solo Hiking

Elevation: 3,165ft

Trail: White Cross

Elevation Gain: 1,765ft

Distance: 4 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Took a short drive west to hike up Monadnock and it was so refreshing! Originally I wanted to head north but with some overnight snow fall and ice, I didn't feel like driving in the stuff. So Monadnock was a good call for me. At the Poole Road entrance, park rangers said that there were 50 mph winds with reports of ice and snow at the summit. Felt good to get back out and hike the last of Autumn season.....winter will be here soon! 

Summit selfie Video

Along the White Cross Trail

Snow along the trail

End Crags, Crow Hill - Rock Climbing

Mid State Trail to the top of the ledges

Great day for some mellow climbing! Never been to the End Crags of Crow Hill in Leominster State Forest. So Nuno, Nancy, David and I headed there for a day of top roping.

At the base of End Crags

Nancy on Pine Tree

It was Nancy's second day of climbing outdoors!

Beginner's Blessing

End Route

Ueli Steck 2016 Tour - Boston

Got the chance to meet "The Swiss Machine" in person! Watching videos of Ueli Steck run, yes run, up mountains without a rope is jaw dropping. So to see him in person, be in the same room, shake his hand, thank him and tell him how much I enjoyed his presentation, was just as amazing for me!! Just a few photos of his presentation, Q&A, and autograph signing and photo taking.

The Man, the Legend, The Swiss Machine!

Presentation, Q&A, autograph signing

(3rd photo is Brian of MetroRock)

I wished I had brought my ice axes for Ueli to autograph....I could've fit them both in my day pack! There was a smart dude who brought a poster as well as his copies of The American Alpine Journal 2014 (88, Vol 56). Also, during his presentation he did mention sore/bad knees 4 times!

Black & White Rocks - Rock Climbing

Wonderful afternoon with Noreen, Boomer, Nuno, Nancy and David at Crag 1 (Pinnacle) at Black & White Rocks! Wanted to make sure that the hike wouldn't be too strenuous for my old buddy Boomer, so I suggested Black & White Rocks to Noreen. With its super short approach, Boomer had no problems! David and I were able to lead the very easy, very short Fern route. Then we spent the next several hours top roping. 

Nancy's first time climbing outdoors!

Noreen

David

Nuno

Easy Lead

Boston Horizon