NEIce 2009-2010 Round-up

Most of the Tablets at Lake Willoughby lying at the base a week ago. Photo by RAH.

NEIce opened the season with a new website as it reached the 10-year anniversary milestone, a fact which stands as a tribute to the region’s wonderful ice climbing community.  Temperatures this weekend hit an unusual mark for April reaching above 80 degrees Fahrenheit in New England. While there are still pockets of solid ice to be found on Mt. Washington, we take a look back at the highs and lows of the past season.

This past winter got off the an early start in mid-October but was slow to kick off as most routes didn’t form until early December.

• Pinnacle Gully October 15 – https://www.neice.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/6078
• New winter rules for Mt. Katahdin – https://www.neice.com/2009/11/change-in-katahdin-winter-rules/  and a trip report soon after – Doug and Alfonzo’s trip report
• Despite an early start to the season, even the Black Dike didn’t get done until early December this past winter – https://www.neice.com/2009/12/the-black-dike-finally/
• In a sad loss, the community said goodbye to Guy Lacelle.  A tribute to Guy – https://www.neice.com/2010/01/a-tribute-to-guy-lacelle/
• Bayard Russell’s ascent of the Painted Wall icicle was impressive where the beauty of the wall certainly didn’t hurt either – https://www.neice.com/2010/01/fa-the-painted-wall-icicle-m9-wi-5/
• Steve House opened a few eyes soloing Repentance and Remission back-to-back after the NH Ice festival- https://www.neice.com/2010/02/steve-house-solos-repentence-and-remission/
• While it may have escaped the notice of many, Willoughby regulars certainly took notice of the startling and massive water pressure collapse of ice on a cliffside route- https://www.neice.com/2010/02/hydrophobia-at-the-lake/
• Ice festivals once again seemed to provide added motivation for new lines as Matt McCormick’s new line in the Catskills showed during the ice festival there – https://www.neice.com/2010/02/hydropower-m9-wi5/  and during the Adirondack International Mountain Festival brought out “Bossman”,M9, finished by McCormick and Russell, and of course, House’s solo link-up following the festival in NH.