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The Crow's Nest

New Hampshire > Rumney
Warning Access Issue: Note: New route moratorium area DetailsDrop down

Description

A scenic crag pretty high up the mountain. Not a bad place to be when the lower crags are crowded and it's not real hot out. Some of the routes are pretty much in the full sun and some are shaded when the trees have leaves. Mostly, the crag feels hot and dry on sunny days. The climbs that I've done here tend to be technical but a little burly strength helps out too. Also, there is a rap station at the far left of the crag which brings you down to the Yellowknife crag. It's obvious to look at but some of the climbs on the left side of the crag start from a big ledge, with a big drop, so be careful.

Getting There

1. Hike past the Jimmy cliff left side (clip a dee do dha) up a bit and farther, maybe ten minutes or so. Make sure you pass to the left of the little bouldering size wall with the hand crack. Going to the right is the descent trail from the top of Clip a Dee Doo Dah. You will be trending up and left.
2. Alternatively, climb the fixed rope in the gully from the right side of the Hinterlands. I recommend approach no. 1.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 18
● The Dingy
Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 10
● J-boat
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 14
● Seasick
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 72
● Ill Gotten Booty
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
● Keel Hauled
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 61
● Keel-Ho
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 12
● Saint Elmo's Fire
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 118
● Land Ho!
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 7
● Walk the Plank
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
● Nantucket Sleigh Ride
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 39
● The Crow's Nest
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 7
● Corvus B.
TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 66
● Woman Overboard
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 48
● The Trad's Nest
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 77
● Clambake
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 87
● Calypso
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 68
● Mutiny
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 52
● Mussels
Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 110
● The Little Mermaid
Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 86
● Scuttlebutt
Sport
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 65
● Pee Wee's Big Adventure
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13
 7
● Starboard Drift
Trad
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 51
● S.O.S.
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 51
● Sea Breeze
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● The Dingy
 18
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● J-boat
 10
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
● Seasick
 14
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Ill Gotten Booty
 72
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
● Keel Hauled
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
● Keel-Ho
 61
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
● Saint Elmo's Fire
 12
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
● Land Ho!
 118
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● Walk the Plank
 7
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● Nantucket Sleigh Ride
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
● The Crow's Nest
 39
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Corvus B.
 7
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b TR
● Woman Overboard
 66
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● The Trad's Nest
 48
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport
● Clambake
 77
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
● Calypso
 87
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Mutiny
 68
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Mussels
 52
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
● The Little Mermaid
 110
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
● Scuttlebutt
 86
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
● Pee Wee's Big Adventure
 65
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Trad
● Starboard Drift
 7
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b PG13 Trad
● S.O.S.
 51
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
● Sea Breeze
 51
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Crow's Nest left... not much has changed here for a while...
[Hide Photo] Crow's Nest left... not much has changed here for a while...
Paddy and Lacey setting up a rappel off of the crows nest
[Hide Photo] Paddy and Lacey setting up a rappel off of the crows nest
Some key features of Crow's Nest visible from the road.
[Hide Photo] Some key features of Crow's Nest visible from the road.
the newer, far right side routes at the nest
[Hide Photo] the newer, far right side routes at the nest
A topo of the old side of the crows nest
[Hide Photo] A topo of the old side of the crows nest
a map to the crow's nest right... Perhaps one of the biggest mystery areas at rumney right now... this should help...
[Hide Photo] a map to the crow's nest right... Perhaps one of the biggest mystery areas at rumney right now... this should help...
The Crow's Nest
[Hide Photo] The Crow's Nest

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Legalto
[Hide Comment] Just using the guide book, it wasn't entirely clear how to get to this area. Essentially, you take the Jimmy Cliff walk off trail up for a few minutes (walking left of clip a dee doo dah), and then take a left on a connecting trail.

In the summer it was hard to see, so it may be more obvious at other times. Again, look for a path on the left about half way up the walk off trail. Do not walk to the top of Jimmy Cliff. Jul 14, 2014
Alan Emery
Lebanon, NH
[Hide Comment] Some of the junctions at Rumney would be better severed if there were trail markers. This is one area for sure. I have always come up from The Hinterlands. I found that an easy climb and not hard to locate. Jun 19, 2016
Jeffrey LeCours
New Hampshire
[Hide Comment] Recalling back to my first few times accidentally walking to the top of the Clippity slab, I agree with you afemery. I think they'll come with time. The alternative trail up the right side of Jimmy Cliff also comes to mind. I think cairns would be good enough for now. Good suggestions to be brought up at a future RCA Trail Day. Jun 20, 2016
Lee Hansche
Allenstown, NH... and a van…
[Hide Comment] Sending a route is a great feeling, sending a cliff is even better! today I finished sending all of Crow's Nest by climbing Nantucket Sleigh Ride :) This cliff has a few hard eggs to crack Keel Hauled 5.12c, Nantucket Sleigh Ride 5.12c, Walk the Plank 5.11b and a few others are tricky and straight up difficult in the grade. Nov 1, 2016
Optimistic
New Paltz
[Hide Comment] Coming up via the fixed rope at the right end of the Hinterlands, at least when it's covered with newly fallen autumn leaves, is pretty dangerous. Two reasons for this: one, it wouldn't be that hard to slip while scrabbling up the loose dirt above the "4th class" section, and it would be ugly if you did. Two, there is a fair amount of loose rock mixed into the dirt, and at least when we were there, there were a ton of people hanging out at the right end of the Hinterlands who would be in the firing line if you knocked something off. Obviously many folks have done it without incident and so did we, but the commitment factor was a lot higher than we were expecting and I'll use the regular trail next time. Oct 11, 2020
njpast
NH/VT
[Hide Comment] Seeking Clarification on the rappel to Yellowknife: is this doable on a single 60M? Alternatively can one safely descend or rap the fixed lines to Hinterlands? I haven't been to these areas before and this seems like an efficient way to access them after climbing at Jimmy Cliff. Anything else I should know before attempting this?

Any input appreciated, thanks. Aug 19, 2021
M Sprague
New England
[Hide Comment] You should be fine with a single 60M for rapping into Yellowknife. I haven't looked at it in a long time so can't help you with conditions of the gully or the anchor. They are/were big fat galvanized glue-ins, hopefully with fixed gear attached to take the wear. Aug 19, 2021