Diana’s Bath, Champney Falls, Cathedral Ledge - Easy Hike

Just a few photos of some short hikes on a weekday. Spent the day at some mellow waterfalls and at the top of Cathedral Ledge. The trail to Diana’s Bath falls is wide, well-maintained and easy. I can see why this spot attracts many families with small children. 

Afterwards I drove to the top of Cathedral Ledge.  During the winter season, this gate is locked. At the top is a parking lot and a short walk to fenced views above climbing route finishes. 

Chatted a bit with Tom Sawyer who was belaying

Mike Cummins up the route called “Refuse”.  

From the lookout point with Whitehorse Ledge,

Echo Lake and The White Mountain Hotel & Resort

On my way home I stopped off at the Champney Falls trailhead on the Kancamagus Highway. At the loop junction I took the right, up along the stone stairs. Then left onto the loop along the water. The hike up to the top of the loop trail was easy and views along and down the loop trail was fantastic! I never have, but hope to ice climb here. 

The Gunks – Multi pitch rock climb

Belly Roll (5.4)

120 ft, 2 pitches

Jackie and Friends

Betty (5.3)

150 ft, 2 pitches

Jackie and Friends

Twin Oaks (5.3)

190 ft, 2 pitches

The Guides Wall

This weekend was a meetup event with the Mountaineering, Climbing & Backpacking of New England Meetup group! The newly opened Shawangunks Gateway Campground opened for business just weeks before and everything was shiny and new! We pulled into camp Friday night and expected to climb both Saturday and Sunday. But Sunday was a washout so we packed up and headed out in the morning. As for climbing at the Gunks, Saturday was a fun day climbing with Geoff. A sunny, warm day with windy finishes at the tops.

Geoff and I started off with Belly Roll and that “squeeze” through the large crack was, I felt, pretty awkward as well as comical. I slipped and fell on my bad knee on the first pitch of Betty. It was a pretty hard fall on my knee, I wanted to cry but forced myself not to. I had to figure out how to get up that slick section without hurting my knee again, and eventually I did. I loved the second pitch. There was a family of 4 on this climb ahead of us. They went straight up from the belay station. Geoff chose the right side and I’m glad he did. That chimney, to the deck, to the traverse up to the face climb was so fun! Unfortunately, my knee was hurting bad at the end of Betty. So Geoff and I finished the day off on just the first pitch of Twin Oaks (~50 ft).

Enjoy some photos taken of our day at The Gunks. 

Looking up the 1st pitch of Belly Roll

Brian on Dennis route and me on Belly Roll

At the belay station of Belly Roll

Brian and Gabe on the belay station of Dennis

 Geoff at the belay station of Belly Roll

From the top of Belly Roll

Some guy (Peter) solo climbing Betty

(Geoff is already at the belay station)

Coming up P1 of Betty

Gary and Scott at the belay station of RMC

Gary and I at the belay station

Geoff at the belay station of Betty

That fun chimney to start off P2 of Betty

P1 of Twin Oaks

Rappelling

At the Shawangunks Gateway Campground

Footpath along our tent sites

Community Campfire

Main Office

Water isn't free

Mt. Major - Spring Hike

Mt. Major (1,786ft)
Trails: Mt. Major main
Elevation Gain: 1,100ft
Distance: 3.4 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Great to get out hiking with Tim B. again. Enjoy a few photos taken of this little fun cardio workout!








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Drone Camera - Standard Route - Multi pitch Ice Climbing

Standard Route  (WI3+)

Frankenstein Cliffs

Crawford Notch, NH

All last winter I had been asking him to go out ice climbing and he kept declining. So when I got Jeff B ’s email last week about ice climbing, I thought it was a joke and had to I read it several times. Jeff’s son Todd is a professional photographer/videographer and he needed some ice climbing shots/vids via GoPro Drone. http://toddjburgess.com/

I contacted Jeff S. and made sure to check the weather - Sunday was the better of the two. Originally I had chosen Cinema Gully but was told that it would be too thin. So when Frankenstein Cliffs was suggested, I choose the Standard Route because of its short approach and exposure. And I thought Todd should have no problems piloting his Drone for shots. Plus, it was “still in.” But I chose Standard Route mainly because it’s a very recognizable route at the cliffs. So Jeff S. lead both Jeff B. and I up the Standard Route. We had a perfectly beautiful day for ice climbing. The sun was out, temps warm and for the sake of the Drone camera, hardly any wind. Enjoy some photos taken of our climb.

At the tracks of the Standard Route

Gearing Up

Jeff S. on lead - 1st pitch

Jeff S. exiting the ice cave - 2nd pitch

Exiting the ice cave

Me at the 3rd belay station belaying Jeff S. up our last pitch

If we hadn’t been told that it was noisy, I would’ve thought that Todd’s Drone camera was a swarm of bees because that’s exactly what his drone sounded like. Yup, at time 0:37 our ropes are intertwined. But no worries, Jeff and I navigated around one another with no problems. It ain’t sketchy until it gets sketchy, right? :) 

Jeff S. (green jacket) on lead. With Jeff B. in dark blue jacket and me (light blue jacket & white helmet) cleaning pro. Here's the YouTube video!