Katahdin winter ascent

Anyone have a recent conditions update to share? Is the approach suitable for ski with the lack of snow?

Is it still Winter?

Wait it's winter? Not exactly Arctic around here

Dave Schultz wrote:i'm heading up there Saturday for eight nights. I am pretty terrified that I'm going to show up Saturday and will not be able to ski in ... what to do with 125 liters / 90 lbs of gear each? I have spoken to a few sources in the area. one was pretty sure and confident i would still be able to ski in. another was not confident but thought I would not be able to ski in. another said we should be fine. I'll be calling back tomorrow, and then Friday to confirm.

I'm trying to post the link but looks like the NOHRSC website is down...There's satellite data which can pretty much answer this.. If what im looking at is correct it might very well be iffy...

Here's the link: nohrsc.noaa.gov/nsa/index.h…

Looks like you should be fine...

snow coverage NE

We just got turned around from our trip. Made it to togue pond gate bunkhouse Wednesday, stayed there Thursday to wait out the rain with the plan to ski into chimney today. This morning the road was a sheet of ice and there was flooding from roaring brook to chimney covering the trail at points so we decided to head out. Heard that the chimney is a rock climb, some of the other routes were in good shape, but that was before the rain. We skied out, but even very mild downhills were terrifying. There's a 6 inch base of ice, so dragging a sled will be no problem but you might want to wear micros pikes or crampons instead of skis. the ski poles were used more than the skins on the uphills.

Flooding should be fine by tomorrow with the cold weather.

On a related note, we're up in New England for the next two days, anyone have any recommendations for places with ice in, preferably accessible for toproping. Doesn't need to be a classic just somewhere to play to make us feel better.

Haha we just got to North Conway. There was 1 cm of snow covering the ice, at higher elevations than togue pond there could be more, more snow could have fallen than 1 cm but blown off the ice. Many spots there was no snow at all covering the ice. Ski crampons would be pretty ineffective. It was about 4 inches of solid hard ice. Ski until you can't than crampon until you can ski haha

We ended up in North Conway and climbed at Frankenstein. Ice was in surprisingly good shape, then headed to Stowe and got some skiing in on freah powder Sunday morning. Not bad for a failure. Let me know how you make out Dave.

Glad to hear the approach was good for you, although a part of me wanted to hear of heinous condition to put to rest the doubts of bailing being the right call. Sounds like you got in some good climbing! Did you boot it or ski in?

Dave Schultz wrote:Easy, fast approach on Saturday to RB. Easy, fast approach to CP Sunday, and scouted Ciley-Barber approach and climbed the first pitch to see how the ice was. Climbed full Ciley-Barber Monday and Chauven-Cole Tuesday. Rest day Wednesday at RB. Skied out today. Spending the weekend at Frankenstein, the Lake, and ADKs. Full TR on Katahdin to come Monday or Tuesday on neice/neclimb.

Def post a link for the TR... wld love to see the report but im not regular on NEClimb

Reggie Pawle wrote: and regarding the abol trail... just don't go that way. you want to camp in chimney pond.

Hey Reggie, just curious why you said this. I was planning on a day trip up Abol this winter unless you know something I don't?