Railroad Cut Rock Climbing

The Newbury Cut was originally created in 1872 as a path for a train running through the Lake Sunapee area. The routes are bolted safely and nestled in the actual railroad cut, often parallel to each other. All the routes on these cliffs can be accessed from the top, and provided you have enough webbing you will be able to safely top rope everything in the Cut. Moss and small pebbles of loose rock can be a problem here primarily due to the fact that this location has previously been rarely climbed at, though it seems to be gaining some attention recently.

Due to the way the cut was created (blasted with black powder) many of the routes here are very strange feeling in terms of the way they climb and the direction of the holds. The Newbury Cut is best defined by it's blocky and directionally dependent holds that often require subtle body tension to get just right. Better said, it's pretty funky. The Cut has some excellent and definitely testy routes in the 5.10 range. Do not expect to be able to climb well here your first time through.

Due to the aspect, water table, and seasons you will find yourself mostly unable to enjoy climbing the routes on the left side of the Cut from April until it becomes drier in late August.

One word of warning: if you can not look (and climb) past contrivances on the bolted lines there are several routes that will feel too easy for the grade, and also very unsatisfying.