Central New Hampshire Climbers’ Association
Support Our Mission
Who We Are
Central New Hampshire Climbers’ Association (CNHCA) is a non-profit organization in the state of New Hampshire. We are a group of climbers who are dedicated to maintaining and preserving the climbing resource in central New Hampshire. This area includes all climbing accessed off Tripoli Road and Highway 49. This triangle represents a vast and largely unheralded climbing destination, ranking among Rumney and North Conway as a significant climbing location in the state.
From the soaring granite slabs of Dickey Ledge to the brutal sport test-pieces of Merriam Woods, from the alpine ice climbing at Fletchers Cascade to the granite bouldering at Yellowjacket, this area holds enough diverse challenges to keep climbers motivated for years.
While the area’s reputation for hidden cliffs guarded by thigh-burning approaches is somewhat deserved, recent development has focused on more accessible climbs in the modern idiom: well protected with modern hardware, and shorter hikes. Merriam Woods, Russell Forest, Russell Pond, and Exile Crag all fit this description and hold hundreds of newer sport climbs.
The Goal of CNHCA
While most climbs exist on White Mountain National Forest land, Merriam Woods is unique in that it lies in Town of Woodstock land. After much debate, the Town of Woodstock voted to allow climbing to continue at Merriam Woods. The Central NH Climbers’ Association works in concert with the Friends of Merriam Woods to maintain climbing access to this incredible resource.
Our current goal is to establish a dedicated parking lot to access Merriam Woods, Russell Forest, and Russell Pond. This lot would provide convenient access to hundreds of sport climbs. It would also allow CNHCA to communicate with users via an informational kiosk that supports responsible use and good stewardship.
How You Can Help
We are connected in this pursuit by our love of the area and a shared desire to preserve the climbing experience for generations.
Please join us in this effort by donating here.
This collection of climbs represent the “most significant sport climbing area in New Hampshire outside of Rumney.”
-Ward Smith, Rumney Developer
