The Prow Area  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  126,206. Good page?    Administrators:  Jay Knower, M Sprague, lee hansche, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  lee hansche on Jan 15, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The Prow area of Cathedral Ledge

Description 

The Prow is home to some of the longer climbs on the cliff and definitely some of the best moderate to hard free climbing. At about 450ft (4 to 5 pitches) the Prow isn’t a big wall but it certainly can deliver exposure to rival the longer climbs found elsewhere.

Most folk’s first long adventure on the Prow is a trip up the popular 4 pitch 5.9 Recompense. This is one of the best multipitch routes in NH, recommended to all. Other full-length routes include Woman In Love (5.12) and the section's super-classic namesake The Prow (5.11d), a popular hard free climb or good practice clean aid route. If you are looking for super exposed and super hard look no further than Liquid Sky (5.13b) or Edge of the World (5.13c). There are a few classic routes that enjoy the exposure of the prow without having to commit as much. The second half of the Prow is accessible from the midway ledge on the left side of the cliff. These routes include a great first multipitch lead Upper Refuse (5.5), Black Lung (5.8) and The Book of Solemnity (5.10a). All 4 star climbs.

The Prow is the kind of cliff you summit feeling closer to the power that fuels you, whatever you wish to call it. For me the Prow helps give meaning to the cliffs name it’s a place we come to worship rock. It is my cathedral.

Getting There 

From the road find a sing leading to a trail follow the steep trail up stone steps and in cut trails until you are standing at the base. A little 4th class scramble is required to get to the start of some climbs…

The Classics

Featured Route For The Prow Area

The Beast Flake 5.9  NH : Cathedral Ledge : The Prow Area

The Beast Flake is a variation to the second pitch of Recompense that is so good, it deserves its own name.From the bolted belay on Recompense, head up the chimney for a ways until it is obvious to traverse left (small TCU pro). Traverse around the corner (crux) and gain the wonderful flake. This flake is huge and is the Platonic ideal of juggy. Layback with little difficulty, and also little pro unless you brought numerous #3 and #3.5 Camalots. Belay at the top of the flake off gear...[more]   Browse More Classics in NH

Photos of The Prow Area Slideshow

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The view above the pitch one belay on Recompense.....	The last pitch of The Prow...great exposure....	BETA PHOTO: Some of the main routes on The Prow Area... The li...
The Prow