Climb with Us

The custom nature of our guiding mission means you’ll get more out of your time with us.

Custom guided climbing is central to the Mountain Sense mission. Planning the itinerary will begin with a discussion of your goals, abilites, interests, and previous experience. It will also include your future goals and where you want your adventures to lead. With this information in mind we will help you choose objectives and create enjoyable climbing days that present the most rewarding challenges and opportunities.

Maybe you're interested in an introduction to the sport on classic moderate terrain. Maybe you're interested in taking the next steps on long multi-pitch routes. Perhaps you have a desire to explore new destinations like Cathedral Ledge, Lake Willoughby, Cannon Cliffs, or others abroad. Or, it could be that honing a particular skills set and building confidence on lead would open doors in your personal climbing. Whatever your vision, Mountain Sense guides are trained to provide you with exceptional days out that will exceed your expectations.

Mountaineering, Ice & Mixed | Rock Climbing | Trekking & Hiking

MOUTAINEERING, ICE & MIXED CLIMBING

Join us for a variety of climbs from the Ravines of Mount Washington to Crawford Notch, or the steeper, more challenging routes above Lake Willoughby this ice climbing season. Ice season is in full swing and currently there are many interesting and exciting options for winter climbing. Give us a call to discuss private or customized group adventures.

Mount Washington

The glacially carved ravines and the windswept ridgelines of Mount Washington offer an alpine venue for mountaineers and climbers seeking adventure with a big mountain feel. Notorious for it’s savage weather, including record high wind speeds, the summit of Mount Washington can be achieved in winter with careful planning, good equipment, some fitness and the right weather window.
Peak Ascents: Above tree line travel, through an austere winter landscape of rime ice and frost feathers is an experience to which many are drawn year after year. The Lion’s Head trail (just under ten miles round trip and approximately 4000 vertical feet gain) is the most popular route for those attempting the summit. Ascents from the western side of the peak, up Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail, are also spectacular and often less crowded.

Technical Climbing: The gullies of Huntington’s Ravine include multi-pitch chasms of blue ice, walls of dark weathered granite, and plenty of steep snow. Pinnacle, Odell’s, Damnation, Yale and North Gully are all gems and, in decent weather, well worth the two-plus hour approach. Exceptional surroundings and high quality routes of a varied nature make this a climbing destination with a great deal of history. However, don’t let the moderate technical grades fool you into thinking climbing here is just another day at the local crag. These are long alpine routes in a potentially severe environment and need to be taken seriously. If you’re up for an experience like this, the Mountain Sense guides can teach you the skills necessary to assess and manage the risks of this challenging alpine environment so you travel efficiently and have an unparalleled experience.

Frankenstein Cliffs and Mount Willard, Crawford Notch

With consistently formed classics and moderate approaches the walls and gullies of Crawford Notch are among the most popular New England ice destinations—and rightly so.
Frankenstein Cliffs offers a high density of desirable lines varying in difficulty from NEI 2 slabs (helpful for learning foundational skills) to stout test pieces like Dropline, Dracula and Widow’s Walk.
When the weather is poor or avalanche danger in the bigger mountains is too high, Mt. Willard offers a viable alpine alternative to Huntington’s Ravine. Similar in some ways to the climbs on Mt. Washington, the longer gullies on Mt. Willard (Shoestring Gulley gains 2000 vertical feet between the base and the ridge on Webster Cliffs)
Cinema and Hitchcock gullies are two local favorites that offer enjoyable climbing in a beautiful alpine setting. In addition to these longer routes, there are also many other options for getting in some extra pitches. Climbs on the S. face like Great Madness and Gully #1 receive sun that make some of the chilliest days reasonable.

Cannon Cliffs, Franconia Notch

As demonstrated by John Bouchard’s bold first ascent of the Black Dike, climbing on Cannon Cliffs in the winter is not for the faint of heart. Often thin, generally steep, dependably technical and alpine in nature, Cannon is home to The Black Dike, Fafnir and occasionally the ephemeral Lila, Quartet and Omega. Cannon continues to yield some of the most challenging and rewarding climbing for those looking to push themselves in the mixed alpine arenas. Check it out for yourself!

Lake Willoughby

The greatest concentration of steep ice in New England is at Lake Willoughby. Offering routes that range in difficulty from NEI3-6, there’s nowhere else it the lower 48 states that even comes close. Clipping into a massive iced in Cedar tree at the top the most sought after lines at “The Lake“ is a great feeling. Routes like Crazy Diamond III NEI 4+, The Last Gentleman IV NEI 5, and The Promenade IV NEI 5 form consistently and are engaging full day adventures.

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ROCK CLIMBING

Have you always wanted to learn how to rock climb or, improve a particular skill set? Don't wait any longer! At Mountain Sense, we're not only skilled guides, we're also trained, experienced teachers. This is a distinction that other guides serices don't have.

Maybe you have been climbing for years and want to climb multi-pitch routes like Recompense or Diedre on Cathedral Ledge, Hotter Than Hell and Inferno on Whitehorse Ledge, or, The Whitney Gilman, Moby Grape, and Vertigo on Cannon Cliff? With these routes right in our backyard, who's better to guide you on these routes than Mountain Sense?

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TREKKING & MOUNTAINEERING

With 48 peaks over 4000ft, the White Mountains offer substantial variety for the hiking enthusiast. If you’re simply looking for a competent hiking partner, or to push yourself on greater mileage, higher peaks, or in more challenging conditions we’re excited to help.

Some of the most popular non-technical summits top Franconia Ridge. The likes of Lafayette, Lincoln, Liberty and Flume rise well over the 4000ft mark and boast spectacular above tree-line views. The Presidential range offers many options from Mt. Jackson, at just over 4000 ft at its southern reaches, to the summit of Mount Washington set in the middle of the range, to the slightly less traveled but equally arduous Mt. Adams and Madison at its hulking northern terminus.

International treking:

Have you treked through out the United States? Do you want to experience some international flavor? How about experiencing the mystic of Patagonia while teekking hut to hut in the area of Cerro Catedral in Barriloche, Argentina. Come join us for a trekking experience unlike any other in one of the most spectacular environments in the world.

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