Where and When?

 A Guide to Early Season Ice

Tuckermans Ravine, Mt Washington NHs  10-19-2013

Every year it is a little different. When and where we will find the first Ice to Cimb? It is time to start looking.  Time  to start looking at the weather, to sharpen the gear and get the pack ready. And of course, stay tuned to NEice. If there is ice, we will find it!

Below is what we have seen over the last few years for early season ice with dates, and related stories.

Cover photo:   Alfonzo

2012

October 13  – MT Katahdin  ME.  Alfonzo and I hit the pot of gold…the best earliest season ice we have ever climbed in the Northeast. Also see The Season of the Witch.

November 5 – Defiance in Huntington Ravine.  We were determined, by hook and crook we were climbing up a gully.

November 6 – The Black Dike Goes Down!! The unofficial start to to the Ice Climbing season.

November 12 – “P.F. Flyer” King Ravine. We found some excellent early season ice.

December 8 – Take a ride UP “Standard Rt”. WooKong takes to the air.

Katie Ives enjoying some great early season ice climbing on Damnation Gully, Huntington Ravine, Mt. Washington NH. 10/29/2011

2011

October 6 – We beat the sun for the “First Ice” Planing is everything.

October 25 – Fall Meets Winter The transition to winter is so beautiful

October 29 – Game ON! Here we go!

November 4 – “Trick or Treat?” What is going on?

November 6 – Pinnacle Gully, IN!  Arethusa Falls , Not IN!

November 13 – Is this Ice Climbing? King Ravine NH – It’s all relative.

November 30 – False Start. – 5 yard penalty – repeat first down.

December 19 –  No “Small Victory” Fafnir, Cannon Cliff NH

2010

October 10 – Let the “Games” begin! The Start!

November 3 – Right on Schedule! – The Black Dike comes in as predicted.

November 24 – The Ice is Back!  – A warm spell took out what little ice we had.

December 7 – Pinnacle Gully, Huntington Ravine – Full on Winter!

2009

October 15 – “Pinnacle Gully”  The cold came in early, it looked like a great start, then the warm up!

November 8 – If you want to climb ice, you can find it! Turf climbing an’t so bad!

November 24 – Where is the ice? What a difference a year makes

December 9 – “The Black Dike”. A very late start for “The Dike”.

December 18 – “Hassig’s Direct”. A variation of The Black Dike on Cannon Cliff.

Some Early Season Photos

Other Information

Go to NEice Weather. We have all the info you need to plan your early season trip

Our Classified Section has great deals on gear. Sell or buy to get ready for the upcoming season.

Looking for a climbing partner? Our Partners Section is the perfect place to start.

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I hope your looking forward to the upcoming Ice Season as much as I am. What will Mother Nature give us this year?

-Doug Millen