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Elevation: 1,177 ft
GPS: 43.77922, -71.54178
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 5,288 total · 47/month
Shared By: Zac St Jules on Jan 11, 2015
Admins: Jay Knower, M Sprague, Lee Hansche, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan S, Robert Hall

Description Suggest change

This ice is found at the base of the extremely popular hiking trail of West Rattlesnake in Holderness, NH.

The flows on these cliffs are at the far left and the far right, at the base and consist of lines from 25ft-45ft, and plenty of mixed climbing variations.

Flows to the left are fun, short, steep chandelier ice.
Flows to the right vary in style and are less consistent.

The cliffs are west facing so they get a little bit of sun but with the ice being on the lower section of the cliffs, it's mostly shaded.

There are remnants of this area once being a rock climbing destination but from what I could tell has long been abandoned. The rock is super chossy. I highly suggest, though it might look tempting, to not climb here in the summer though the bolted climbs to the far right seem solid.

[NOTE- I visited here mid-Jan 2019 and found no climbable ice, although it did appear the "slab" area was getting some ice.  Dec2018 and Jan2019 were very cold, and this may have actually been the problem...i.e. being a summit cliff I suspect it needs thaw-freeze cycles for the ice to form.  R Hall NHAdmin.  20JAN19  However, it is a nice, short hike on a popular trail with great views at the top.  ]

Getting There Suggest change

Take 113 from Holderness, NH for about 10 min. You will see a very small brown sign on your right that says "rattlesnake parking". Park here and hike the easy trail to the top of the cliffs. Find your way around to the bottom of the cliffs and climb the ice.
Total time from parking lot to the ice: 30min

[NOTE: Probably the easiest way from the summit slabs is to take the "Blue Trail on Map" (the trail is yellow blazed) down for 75-100 yds or so and then cut back sharply right to the cliff.  This brings you to the far Climber's-Right on the cliff; then work climber's-left along the forested "bench" below the cliff. In Jan 2019 I went the other way (green-blazed trail) and cut right to the far left of the cliff, but that was more bushwhacking and loss of "altitude". R Hall NH Admin. ]

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