description Black Dike Overview
The Black Dike is a classic winter climbing route on Cannon Cliff in New Hampshire's Franconia Notch. It follows a prominent dark cleft and can involve rock, ice, and mixed climbing, with conditions changing substantially according to temperature and snowfall. The route is intended for experienced winter climbers who can place protection, assess ice quality, manage transitions between rock and ice, and retreat safely from a multipitch cliff.
help Black Dike FAQ
Where is the Black Dike climbing route?
The Black Dike is on Cannon Cliff in Franconia Notch, New Hampshire. It follows a prominent dark cleft that can hold rock, ice, and mixed climbing depending on the season.
Why is the Black Dike considered a winter route?
Cold weather can turn the cleft into a line of ice and mixed climbing, while warmer or less snowy conditions expose more rock. The route’s difficulty therefore depends strongly on temperature, snowfall, and ice formation.
What skills does the Black Dike require?
Climbers need to manage changing transitions between rock, ice, and mixed terrain. They also need winter protection and the judgment to assess whether the cleft has formed safely enough to climb.
Is the Black Dike a pure waterfall-ice climb?
No. Its character comes from the combination of a dark rock cleft, ice, and mixed climbing on Cannon Cliff. That makes it different from a route whose surface is consistently frozen water from bottom to top.
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