Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 1,588 ft
GPS: 43.97346, -71.21583
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 40,362 total · 289/month
Shared By: chinos Garlough on Oct 1, 2012 · Updates
Admins: Jay Knower, M Sprague, Lee Hansche, Jeffrey LeCours, Jonathan S, Robert Hall

Description Suggest change

A White Ledge Short History by Brad White (North Conway)

White Ledge has been known about in North Conway climbing circles for a long time but not fully explored till now. After a failed attempt to find this cliff 30 years ago I pretty much gave up on it till the fall of 2010. Rumor had it that over the years other people had hiked to the base checking it out but most had chosen not to return to climb. Having seen it from a distance many times, I figured that a day spent looking in the woods was in order. Matt Peer offered to join me figuring that a hike was at least good for training. We found the cliff quite easily with the leaves off the trees and were immediately impressed with the climbing potential.

We returned just as snow was about to fly and rappelled the cliff finding one old fixed piton and a few old pin scars (Old Route), one old quarter inch bolt of 1970’s vintage on a run out slab and nothing else. I was amazed that not even a single piece of webbing or rappel ring was found. (While cleaning in the spring of 2012 two other fixed pitons were discovered under the moss and dirt on P2 of Trail of Tears that were removed by finger strength alone.)

Over the Winter and spring of 2011, I set out to contact older climbers such as Ed Webster, Paul Ross, Rick Wilcox, Joe Cote, Steve Larson, Chris Noonan and Mike Hartrich to name a few and asked if they had ever climbed here or knew of anyone who had. All said that they knew of the cliff but had not climbed there personally or knew of anyone else who had. I checked older copies of the North Conway new route books and climbing journals but no one had claimed (that I could find) to have done any climbing here even though we knew that some climbing had been done.

Matt Peer and I made the decision to develop the cliff in the summer of 2011 as a modern traditional climbing area with occasional bolt protection where good gear was not available and a few bolt anchors in useable locations. Deciphering what could have been climbed very boldly and what has not been climbed at all, is very difficult when the first explorers declined to record their adventures for others to follow. I am sure that this is someone’s secret cliff but the climbing is too good to keep it hidden forever.

I am listing most climbs as “First Recorded Ascents” even if they were not completely climbed before as listed. We have arranged the climbs pitches in a logical order by difficultly and location. The cliffs slabby nature allows for a bit of mixing and matching of pitches if you are so inclined and many different combinations of pitches have been done. We cleaned the routes and established fixed protection and rappel anchors where needed.

The cliff can be rappelled down the left or right side with a single seventy meter rope. If you have a 60M or less, you will need to bring a second rope or walk off. You will need to have a full modern rack including the smallest cams and nuts, tri-cams and regular cams to a #3 Camalot sized piece to adequately protect most of the climbs. If special gear is needed it is noted in the pitch descriptions. This noted gear is not always absolutely necessary but using it will keep the climbs reasonably well protected. At times a second set of medium cams or medium sized pieces will be helpful for belays. The climbs mostly follow natural features and protection possibilities avoiding bolt intensive development whenever possible.

The headwall area of overlaps and corners suffer from seepage and a few wet streaks after heavy rains but most of the middle and lower pitches dry fairly quickly. Protection ratings are given for certain pitches that may require more attention. Expect a few Whitehorse slab style run outs but in general the protection (with work) is good. This cliff faces south and is sunny and warm early in the spring and late into the fall.

Getting There Suggest change

White Ledge is located just off the White Ledge Hiking loop trail located in Albany, NH on RT 16, South of Conway. Park in the White Ledge Campground. Use the visitor parking section, just inside the gate on the right. If this area is full inquire of the campground “keeper” as to where to park. Under no circumstances park in a campground site ( unless directed to do so) or in any way block the entrance. The trail starts at the back right side of the campground, start here. In the winter, park in the pull-in, pull-out area before the gate. In the spring, it's important to not block the gate as the concessionaire may be coming in and out prior to opening the  campground.

Walk .3 miles to the loop intersection and take the right-hand path (more like "straight-ahead) marked as the "Loop Trail 4.1 miles". [NOTE: This is the longer way to the summit, but the shorter way to the base of the ledge. As of fall 2022 the sign ONLY points in this direction. ( Hard to explain but you’ll see what I mean.) the sign for the left-hand trail, which is the "direct" route to the summit, is missing.) Walk a little less than a mile up the trail till you come to a flat saddle at a height of land. (Boulderers should look for the 10 ft high “Welcome to the Field” boulder on the right) Continue downhill 5 minutes or so and you'll come to an 18-inch natural granite step in the trail that is a small dry streambed.  Walk 30-50 feet further to a cairn on the left and then follow occasional cairn(s) and path left (Northwest)  You’ll cross a small stream bed.  Soon a house sized boulder with a cool cave underneath can be seen. Go around this on the right and follow cairns through the talus for about 150-200 ft. 

The approach time is about 35 minutes to one hour from the parking lot to the toe of rock at a modest pace with the majority of hiking on the trail.

If you top out on the cliff after your climb and want to hike back rather than rappel, walk back about 400 feet moving (Northwest) slightly downhill/right and you'll soon cross the hiking trail. (see photo of map & directions)

   For the fastest way back to the campground, turn left (uphill).  If you want to get back to the base of the climb, turn right (downhill) and follow the approach path when you get to it.

28 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: White Ledge Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at White Ledge

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
More Classic Climbs in White Ledge »

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading