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New Hampshire "Slide Climbs"?

Original Post
Lothian Buss · · Durango, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 15

In the Adirondacks, there's a bunch of great 4th class slab climbs to summits...

Anything suggestions for something like that in the Whites?

Aunt Patty · · Fryeburg, ME · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 213

Webster cliffs, Mt. Willard. 

Robert Hall · · North Conway, NH · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 28,893

Lothian, I'd say Webster Cliffs and Willard are not exactly what you're looking for, they are 5th class climbs (look 'em up in Mtn Prjct or The Notches guidebook) while Adks slides are more 2nd, 3rd and maybe 4th class (although why one would use a rope on them is beyond me, since the rope is often a danger in knocking off loose rock)

In WM:Franconia there's "Guy's Slide" on Lincoln, there's a new post-Irene slide on Osceola.  Tripyramid had a slide on the "west side" but I think it's overgrown and mossy now; Hancock has a slide...was class 2-3; Like Adks slides, most of these lead near the top and with some bushwhacking to a trail for descent.  North Percy Peak is probably the equivalent of Eagle slide on Giant in the Adks....most want a rope but it's pretty easy 5.0 - 5.3.  (MtnPjct: Great North Woods) There's really nothing that I know of in NH that compares to slides like Nippletop, Bottle, Benie's Brook, and the "new" (Hurricane Floyd) slides on Dix.

Henderson Ridge in Huntington Ravine is not a "slide" but has the same kind of mountaineering quality to it...4th class to low 5th class.      

Lothian Buss · · Durango, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 15

Cool. I guess I was really thinking more about the 4th class aspect. I don't really care if it's a slab or a slide, just looking for 4th class "scrambles".

Henderson Ridge looks pretty cool.

Brian E · · Western North Carolina · Joined Mar 2005 · Points: 363

Hi Lothian,
I recently did the Henderson Ridge, and I thought it was a great 4th class scramble. The shwack from the Huntington Ravine trail to the foot of the ridge wasn't too bad, and it deposits you right onto the Nelson trail. I had fun, and I hope you do as well.

Robert Hall · · North Conway, NH · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 28,893

When we did the Henderson Ridge we stayed relatively high on the Huntinton Ravine Trail before cutting over at about the level of the base of North Gully.  A bit of "bad" slide alder, but all-in-all not a bad bushwhack.  By starting a bit higher than the base of the climb, you can be going semi-downhill during the bushwhack...which is always easier than semi-uphill!  We took a 60m 7.8mm (figued just double it up if we hit a short hard section, which we didn't) and a very light rack....a few wire nuts, yellow-Alien-sized, 0.5, 1.0 and 2 Camalots and 3-4 alpine draws. (over-the-shoulder slings)  We found some pins for belays here-and-there. My (non-leading) partner was glad to have the rope, it also let us climb more directly. (go to the right for easier terrain).

You also might enjoy the far left side of Pinnacle....it "goes" at about the same grade as Henderson. Start in the usual start, then move pretty far left after the usual long P1. Then up for a long pitch, then work back right to the "ridgeline" above all the "hard" stuff (i.e the 5.7 -5.8 climbing) and finish on the easier climbing above.

Central Gully is OK, but lots of lose rock...good practice for the Canadian Rockies !  (a sort of "Ha, Ha !")

The previously mentioned North Percy Peak.

Over in Maine: the regular hiking trail for Tumbledown Mtn has some pretty interesting "hiking / scrambling", but it is "just" a trail so you'll share it with others. (This is the steep trail that goes up the East side past the climbing cliff)

We also found Boot Spur Buttress interesting....perhaps more class 5, but wander a bit you'll probably find easier rock.

all the above except the hiking trail on Tumbledown is in MtnPrjct (The technical climbing is in)

Russ Keane · · Salt Lake · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 392

Great topic!   I love this type of hiking.   Here's a cool website:    http://www.theterrifying25.com/     I've done Flume Slide trail in the winter.  It was unreal.  Could be even harder in the summer if damp (you have no crampons!)

Lothian Buss · · Durango, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 15

Henderson Ridge was a fun way to complicate a Mount Washington hike. Just a couple low 5th class moves that were totally optional.

Thomas Stryker · · Chatham, NH · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 250

Not fourth class per se, but South Baldface in Evans Notch has a steep slabby section that leads to a pretty neat kind of alpine garden area. 

Rob Blakemore · · Boston, MA · Joined Jun 2015 · Points: 270

The most "Adirondack like" slide I've found in NH so far is "Guy's Slide" which RHall mentioned upthread. It is also called "High and Dry"  I felt it is very similar to Bottle Slide on Giant Mountain in the Adirondacks. I thought it made for a real pleasant way up Mt. Lincoln. I added some photos and info here:  https://www.mountainproject.com/route/114372675/lincolns-pinnacles-via-guys-slide

Jim Corbett · · Keene, NY · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 10

The Whites are older geologically than the Daks. They are comparatively piles of rubble. The daks are one of the youngest and fastest growing ranges around and are essentially a solid granite batholith with a thin veneer of dirt and vegetation, so when something like Irene comes through some of this sloughs off and viola the nice bare granite slides you see. Slides in the whites, mostly just rubble.

As an aside, my wife and I are finishing up the New England hundred highest and just got back from Baxter where among other things we knocked off Coe, where the trail goes up a really nice daks type slide. The views would have been spectacular if not for that pesky NE weather. Not in the Whites, but recommended.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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