Comments: Climbed Notchtop via the North Face route on November 29, 2009. The trail to Lake Helene is pack down and solid. The snowfield below the route is solid, feet didn't penetrate through the snow and crampons were necessary. Pitch 1 is covered by the snowfield, so you can just walk to the fixed anchor for Pitch 2. Pitch 2 is quite thin but climbable and was the crux of the route. Pitches 3 and 4 are in great shape, thick and solid. Used screws for all protection, brought rock gear but never us... more >>
Comments: Climbed the North face today and it was pretty fun. Really thin ice on the first ice pitch, but the last ice pitch was pretty fat (and now it's nice and chopped out!). Snow was not ideal but safe enough.