Climbing - 2005/09/10 - Cannon Cliff, NH - Moby Grape

Phil G., Mike L, Myself, and Simon P., hit up Cannon in New Hampshire on Saturday. It's about a 2.5 hour drive or so from Boston. We met in Lowell at 7 AM and made it to cliff around 9:30 AM or so. After the treaturous approach over the talus field, we climbed Moby Grape (5.8, 8 pitches). The climbing was great, and we made good time. But don't make the same mistake I made: pack light! Cannon isn't a place where you can leave your pack on the ground because the hike out is nowhere near the base of the climb. I'll only make the mistake of bringing a big pack with me once =).

On the way Cannon: ROAD TRIP!!!

Cannon Cliff

Cannon Cliff: the talus field (look at that blue sky!)

Cannon Cliff: that looks like fun

Simon and Mike gettin' their gear ready

Phil gettin' his gear ready

Hi ho

Hi ho

Cannon Cliff: talus field (do we have to hike up this crap?!)

It's through the woods we go

Frequent rests required on this hike up

Cannon Cliff: talus field

Cannon Cliff: talus field

Cannon Cliff: talus field

Well hello Simon, you cheeky monkey!

Mike on Pitch 1: Moby Grape

Mike on Pitch 1: Moby Grape

Pitch 1: Moby Grape

Pitch 1: Moby Grape

Well, at least the rock's not straight up

Um, high

Phil's reaction to my climbing style

The patented Christiaan-looking-down-foot-shot

Is that a penny down there in those trees?

Phil getting it done

Phil ponders life's deepest questions...

Phil leading up the second pitch of Moby Grape

Cannon Cliff

One word: fun

Don't drop your keys

Hi Mom

This was a really, really comfortable bench to rest on

Well, now that's a view

Simon and Phil, can you believe they urinated on my from there?

Hey fellas!

How would you like to stick your gear into that?

Depth perception is fun

Who's that down there?

Cannon Cliff

What a view, not a cloud in the sky

Hey, where did that could come from?

The valley view

Now if they cleared that talus, you could add a few hundred more feet to these climbs!

And I'm spent! Do you see how high we are?!

Look ma!

Haha, protection is for the weak and the sailors

Dualing belays: thank goodness it was me belaying and Phil climbing

Hanging belay, Simon pointed out my bad form: rope drag on my anchor sling

Christiaan belaying fill from a pseudo-hanging belay

Cannon