cathedral ledge

Private Rock Climbing with Kat & Hardy (and Wilderness Navigation blurb)

David Lottmann Land Navigation, Rock Climbing , , , , , ,

I was fortunate to spend the July 4th holiday with yet another awesome couple. While Hardy has dragged Kat along on some long fly fishing trips this birthday present was all about Kat and reconnecting to her passion through a private rock climbing course. Given the expected crowds on a beautiful Saturday, July 4th, I decided to reverse the flow a bit and we started the day by rappelling down Barber Wall and climbing Upper Refuse first thing in the morning.

No question, she's having a good time!
No question, she’s having a good time!
Look at that face!
Look at that face!
This couple was so cute & supportive of each other through-out, it was really awesome hanging out with them for the day!
This couple was so cute & supportive of each other through-out, it was really awesome hanging out with them for the day!
Kat remembers how she used to coil rope
Kat remembers how she used to coil rope

After topping out to a very crowded vista we enjoyed a bit of lunch over on Airation Buttress. For the afternoon we headed over to Whitehorse Ledge. It was the first time I’ve seen the rockfall from this past Spring near the Dike Route, quite impressive!

Recent rockfall below the Dike Route
Recent rockfall below the Dike Route

Kat wanted to work on some gear placement skills so we set up shop on Beezlebub Corner. We did a couple of laps on that, one where Kat did a “mock” lead”.

Hardy liked climbs with big hand holds... if you got guns might as well use them!
Hardy liked climbs with big hand holds… if you got guns might as well use them!

Kat was also looking for a burn before wrapping up the day so I dropped a top-rope on the 5.10a test piece, Seventh Seal. With a tight belay and a few rests both made it up the route, a great ending to a full day!

Kat dancing up to Seventh Seal... having a past in competitive ballet definitely helps your climbing!
Kat dancing up to Seventh Seal… having a past in competitive ballet definitely helps your climbing!

The connection these two share was quite apparent through-out the day. Between “atta-boy’s” and “go get it’s” they had just the right amount of loving encouragement without living inside a Hallmark card. It was a real pleasure to climb with them both and if I’m right about Hardy, and I think I am, I’ll be seeing them both this upcoming winter for a spot of ice climbing. and maybe a Mount Washington climb!

Today also concluded another Wilderness Navigation Course. Emily & Al joined me for the day while we covered the in’s & out’s of survival navigation, map skills, compasses, and bushwhacking. A bushwhack up Hurricane Mountain and some compass work out on Black Cap… It was a good day to tramp about in the woods!

Our circuit
Our circuit

Thanks for reading!

See you in the mountains,

-NEAlpineStart

2 Day Private Rock Climbing

David Lottmann Uncategorized , , , , , ,

Dillan and Cole have been putting in time in the climbing gym and chomping at the bit to get climbing outside. To that end they joined me for a 2 Day Private Rock Climbing course that ended today. It was my first rock guiding days of the season and the motivation was high all around. We covered a ton of info in just two days and I could tell they were hungry for more when they left. Here’s a brief recap of our two days:

Yesterday, 8:30AM

We met at EMS North Conway and after getting acquainted headed out to Cathedral Ledge. We drove to the top and spent a little time at “The Classroom” learning about traditional protection, anchoring, and rappelling.

Cole's first rappel
Cole’s first rappel
Dillan's first rappel
Dillan’s first rappel

After a short practice rappel we made our way down to the Barber Wall and rappelled down Laytons Ascent/Chicken Delight.

Layton's Ascent being descended
Layton’s Ascent being descended
Cole rappels
Cole rappels

We then short-roped over to the classic Upper Refuse.

Top of the first pitch of Upper Refuse
Top of the first pitch of Upper Refuse
Dillan finishing Upper Refuse
Dillan finishing Upper Refuse
Cole looking physced
Cole looking relaxed

4 short pitches up that had us on top at noon, where we enjoyed lunch on top of Airation Buttress.

Family shot
Family shot

We then headed down to The North End and learned a little about threading a sport anchor in preparation for lowering or cleaning a sport lead. We then worked on our crack climbing skills on Child’s Play and Kiddy Crack.

Working on crack climbing skills on Kiddy Crack
Working on crack climbing skills on Kiddy Crack

Back at the shop we reviewed some of the skills we had covered before calling it a day.

Today:

We drove up to Pinkham Notch and hiked up to Square Ledge. The focus was on building quality top-rope anchors but we also wanted to get some climbing in.

Learning the bowline
Learning the bowline
Still snow on that hill
Still snow on that hill
Contemplating
Contemplating “The Brain”
Attentive belaying
Attentive belaying
Working
Working “The Nose”
West Face multi-pitch practice
West Face multi-pitch practice
Dillan closing in on the anchor
Dillan closing in on the anchor
Chillin' with a view
Chillin’ with a view

Couldn’t have asked for a better start to the rock season. These guys were 100% engaged in the learning process, asking questions, practicing skills, buying helmets! Seriously days like this remind me how lucky I am to be a climbing guide. I look forward to working with Cole and Dillan again… it’s obvious they have the climbing bug and I am sure I’ll see them in the mountains again!

BTW, 4 more days left to enter to win a sweet climbing knife! Details here!

See you in the mountains!

NEAlpineStart

Upper Refuse with Ed

David Lottmann Rock Climbing ,

Fellow Mount Washington Observatory supporter and friend Ed O’Malley joined me for a half day of climbing on Cathedral Ledge this past Friday. Rain and other work commitments have kept me inside for the last few weeks so I was very glad to get out and enjoy the day.

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Speaking of the Mount Washington Observatory their annual fundraiser is coming up very soon, and I am very behind in my fundraising efforts. Please take a moment to visit my fundraising site and consider helping me help such a great organization!

http://observatory.mountwashington.org/site/TR/Events/SeekthePeak11?px=1045090&pg=personal&fr_id=1030