Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

The Apron

5.5, Trad, 350 ft (106 m), 3 pitches,  Avg: 1.5 from 2 votes
FA: Bill Keiler, Jack Dorsey - 2010
New Hampshire > Great N Woods R… > N Bald Cap > 2. Apron Area

Description

A fun little climb with a nice arete on the first pitch. It's a little dirty and could use some cleaning.

P1. Climb short steeper section with some gear to the start of the arete. Beware of a loose hold. Follow the arete passing a bolt and some easier terrain to a tree ledge and a pine tree on the right. The original belay was at an old almost dead questionable pine tree more in the left/center, so we moved the anchor (and added new webbing) to a nicer tree on the right. 5.5 120'

P2. Move through the trees to the next part of the cliff and climb easier featured terrain. Gear belay at a crack. 5.4 160’

P3. Over the bump and easy slab to tree ledge with rap anchor. There was no rap ring and only an old torn buried in the moss webbing when we got there so we added more webbing and left a biner. 5.2 70'

Once at the top, you can bushwack uphill to the next climb, The Arete. An outstanding route and the main reason for doing this route.

Descent: Two raps. The first one just barely reach to next tree ledge with double 60m, but the terrain is easy and safe at that point. Then go through the trees and a second rappel to the ground on climbers left (where you started the climb). Not sure if you can get down to the bottom of the actual cliff.

Location

GPS: N44.467750 W71.068743

To get to the Apron area, you have two options:
* The better is taking the trail that goes to October Sundae until it takes a sharp left (
). At that point you can see the apron in front of you. Go straight ahead instead (towards the cliff) and you will very soon see a brook. You can follow it until it gets into the woods. At that point it's an easy short bushwack straight uphill right to the cliff. [June 2020 Update: I "reversed" these directions on a "exploratory hike around" and I think in the 4 years since Ron posted this, (2016) the growth in the logged-out area has become quite a bit thicker and higher. Be forwarned. R Hall NH Admin.]

* You can also bushwack from the Lost Boys area along the cliff. It’s a little more work as the terrain is rough.

Once at the bottom of the cliff, the route is a little tricky to find and not obvious. It's located around on the left and uphill from the bottom part of the cliff. It's a steep hike. The start is by two birch trees (one of which has a pink string on it, Aug 2016) (
).

Protection

Standard rack

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

P1, the exposed fun arete.
[Hide Photo] P1, the exposed fun arete.
Base of the cliff. The route "The Apron" is around the corner up and left.
[Hide Photo] Base of the cliff. The route "The Apron" is around the corner up and left.
The Apron, closeup of the start
[Hide Photo] The Apron, closeup of the start
The Apron, start
[Hide Photo] The Apron, start
How we found the anchor on top of P3. We added a new webbing and left a biner as there was no ring.
[Hide Photo] How we found the anchor on top of P3. We added a new webbing and left a biner as there was no ring.
Top of P2 and P3.
[Hide Photo] Top of P2 and P3.
Start of P2.
[Hide Photo] Start of P2.
Top of P1. The old questionable pine tree with the original anchor on it. We moved it to the pine tree just right of the small birch tree.
[Hide Photo] Top of P1. The old questionable pine tree with the original anchor on it. We moved it to the pine tree just right of the small birch tree.
Rap Station for Pitches 2 & 3
[Hide Photo] Rap Station for Pitches 2 & 3
Rap Station for Pitch 1
[Hide Photo] Rap Station for Pitch 1

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Tom Sawyer
North Conway, NH
  5.4
[Hide Comment] The listed GPS location is accurate and helpful along with the photo of the start. Lots of lichen on the arete but protects well. However, the arete does not last long and after the bolt is reached the climb is not as interesting and becomes fairly easy. Care should be taken not to knock any of the rocks laying on the slab onto climbers/belayers below when climbing and rappelling. The views are very nice. If the entire climb was anything like the first 30' or so, this climb would be outstanding. Aug 1, 2018