We Who Wander:
Exploration & Climbing in
Central New Hampshire
DONATE TO HELP SECURE ACCESS FOR YEARS TO COME
Thanks for watching. This film was made by the climbers who live here, about the places we climb. Those places cost money to keep open. In 2024 we bought the five acres on Tripoli Road and built a new parking lot to provide trailhead access to the climbing at Merriam Woods, Russell Forest and more. We're a third of the way to owning the land outright. We need your help getting over the finish line!
THE REGION
EVERYTHING OFF TRIPOLI ROAD AND ROUTE 49
The cliffs and boulders in the film come from areas spread across the CNHCA region. The parcel we bought sits in the middle of it — and it's what gets you into Merriam Woods, Russell Forest and Schist Creek.
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SPOT THE LINES
THE FILM MINUTE BY MINUTE.
Below are some of our favorite climbs from the film, each with its timestamp, so you can go find it yourself.
If these cliffs matter to you, please donate what you can.
RUSSELL CRAGS AT MERRIAM WOODS
Tripoli Road, North Woodstock, NH
Steep sport test-pieces on town conservation land.
Timestamp 1:05
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S MEMORIAL ROUTE
Stolen Buttress
Bryce takes it all in on the topout of Indigenous Peoples Memorial Route (5.7).
Timestamp 2:15
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
The Ruin
Kayte on the original upper crux of the Positive Reinforcement (5.12); later ascents cleaned up the right exit, which is also steep and excellent. Which way will you go? Positive Reinforcement offers engaging climbing that is, most importantly, steep and 5.12! Kayte unlocks the upper crux of the original left exit.
Timestamp 3:04
EVERYTHING
Roadhouse
What did you climb today? I climbed “Everything”!
Abby Erler enjoying this steep and technical 5.8 corner.
Timetamp 5:03
THE BALCONY (AKA “Nick’s Balcony) 5.11
The Balcony Wall
One of the first routes to be developed in the area and also one of the best, The Balcony (5.11) lives up to its name with a conspicuous jutting ledge overlooking the whole hillside. Mike Gagnon navigates its upper crux.
Timestamp 5:54
JO JO FOR PRESIDENT
Winter Wall
Steep and juggy and 5.10 - a lot of people huck a lap on JoJo’s just for the fun of it. Some have taken this to the extreme, and the current record is 75 laps in a single day. It’s unclear whether they stopped due to fatigue or boredom (or both). Here Mike Zarnowski shows off his excellent route.
Timestamp 11:04
THEORETICAL PHYSICS
Alchemy Wall
A mini-Predator tucked away on the Russell hillside, Theoretical Physics is unmistakable. Lee Hansche had the vision and strength to realize this modern classic thirteen.
Timestamp 13:02
GOLDEN STRIPE
Stolen Buttress
Russell’s best route? Golden Stripe (11d) follows a (you guessed it) golden stripe up a steep wall on the left side of Main Cliff. The situation is classic enough, but the moves and flow of the route are even better. Matty Crowe shows how it’s done.
Timestamp 11:04
NATURAL BORN KILLERS
Bird Murder
Natural Born Killers (11d) links features up a steep wall at the lovingly named Bird Murder Area. Torie Kidd models what natural born climbing looks like.
CNHCA LAND PURCHASE
Tripoli Road, Thornton, NH
There are some great boulders and routes here, especially for those new to climbing outside. Even more important, this land allows parking and access to Merriam woods, Russel Forest, and Schist Creek: hundreds of routes with many five star gems among them.
Timestamp 7:31
CLOSING TIME V2
First Aid Boulder
Jay tops out Closing Time (V2) on the First Aid Boulder. This is the big boulder that you first see upon entering the CNHCA land purchase. There used to some old rusty pitons in that crack from climbers in the mid-1900s.
Timestamp 12:00
Mission Impossible Hollywood Things
Canyonlands, Utah
Climbing icon Ron Kaulk was the stunt double for Tom Cruise in this scene from Mission Impossible.
Timestamp 20:14
STORY OF HATE
Storybrooke
Chris Vaughan on the 5.8 slab finish of Story of Hate. Tricky sequencing and footwork make it look smooth.
Timetamp 24:16
LIGHTNING BOLT CRACK
First Aid Boulder
An awesome V0 on the First Aid Boulder for new climbers, or to loosen the body up to get ready for harder projects.
RUSSELL FOREST
Tripoli Road, Thornton, NH
Great climbing on WMNF land.
Timestamp 25:29
WHERE NO ONE GOES
Y-Crag
This dad-bolted 5.4 is a great first lead for those of all ages. Be sure to watch the opening sequence of How to Train Your Dragon 2 to get the theme song.
Timestamp 21:17
HOAGIES & GRINDERS
Y-Crag
Taxing the body and mind, Hoagies and Grinders is a classic, dead-vertical 11d. Christine links it up with style and grace.
Timestamp 21:32
THICK AIR
Y-Crag
Thick Air tops out at a picturesque overlook, sporting the best views in the region after two pitches of enjoyable 5.6 face climbing
MOUNT OSCEOLA
Tripoli Road, Waterville Valley, NH
Timestamp 19:28
SWORDFIGHTER
High Camp
Swordfighter might be the best 5.12 in the region, but it comes with a catch: a 2 mile approach. If you can brave the walk, you’ll be rewarded with an aesthetic line up a series of left-facing corners on impeccable granite.
Timestamp 21:46
WATERVILLE CRACK
High Camp
Splitter! Jay romps up Waterville Crack (5.9), a line you can see from town over two miles away.
Timestamp 17:19
EXPOSURE THERAPY
Exile
Exile Crag is a gem, with great rock on steep walls high above the valley. Greg Pouliot climbs the aptly named Exposure Therapy (10-).
Timetamp 20:34
HANG TEN’ISH 5.11
Exile
The best 10d in NH? Hang Tenish would definitely be in the conversation due to its position and moves. You can’t miss the classy one harm hang from the perfect jug right at the lip of the roof. Jeff Cegan climbs on his masterpiece.
YELLOWJACKET CLIFFS & BOULDER FIELD
RT 49, Waterville Valley, NH
Timestamp 24:10
Little Monsters
Shark’s Fin
June and Gavin did the FA of Little Monsters (V0) while we were filming. While it looks inviting, you might be surprised how committing the topout feels.
Timestamp 22:50
ROSE TRILLIUM
Yellowjacket Boulder
There are numerous variations to Trillium and Mike Gagnon climbs perhaps the best of the bunch: Rose Trillium (V6).
Timestamp 23:51
THE BIG SHORT
Yellowjacket Boulder
The centerpiece line on the Yellowjacket boulder and one of the best boulder problems in the state, The Big Short (V5) has it all. Unlike Pawtuckaway’s ass-dragging boulders, up here, we actually get off the ground. Chris Martin is glad to get out of P-Way and to stick the committing move at the top!