Cannon Cliff is a steep ridge cliff on the east side of Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire. The cliff has several climbs that link up to trails atop and on the sides to make up for several challenges of combining trail running and moderate climbing, taking into account the rules that climbing do not exceed 10%. This is the east coast equivalent to the Flatiron FKTs in Boulder. The routes starts at the climbers kiosk at the Profile Lake parking area.
One climb (WG): This route goes south from the kiosk on Pemi Bike Path until you are beneath the Whitney Gilman (5.7, 6 pitches), head up the trail to the cliff base and continue up the Whitney Gilman climb, hit the climbers trail atop the climb going south and then down the ridge back to the biking path and return to the kiosk (2.3 miles total, separate gpx).
Two climbs (MG, WG): This variation goes directly upward to the ridge base, follow the base south until Moby Grape (5.8, 7 pitches), climb this and return to the cliff base via the climbers trail going north and round the cliff with view to the lake. Follow the cliff base until Whitney Gilman and climb this and return going south and east as for one climb.
Three climbs (LV, MG, WG): This is like the two climbs route except you also climb the Lakeview (5.6, 8 pitches) from the base before or after Moby Grape. After Lakeview also use the north trail back to the cliff base (4 miles, separate gpx).
Josh Garrison posted first one climb as an FKT route. The climb is technical, and is described on https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105872668/whitney-gilman-ridge
This is the east coast equivalent to the Flatiron FKTs in Boulder. The route starts at the climber's kiosk at the Profile Lake parking area. Follow the Pemi Bike Path before following a climber's trail which will take you to the massive granite scree field beneath Cannon Cliff. Follow this up to the base of the Whitney Gilman route. Climb the iconic 6 pitch route to the top of the cliff and make your way down the climbers trail and back up the bike trail to the parking lot.
From first entry:
Been logging lots of hours on Cannon cliff, and getting to know the terrain quite well.
Just completed a car to car time of 1h 25min.
Parking lot-base of Whitney Gilman: 20 min
Base of Whitney Gilman Route- Top of route: 25 min (mostly free solo/couple points of aid)
Top of Whitney Gilman- Car: 40 min
Certainly can be done faster. Had to wait behind party on final pitch..
Route contains a combination of paved bike trail, "climber trail", scree field, technical rock climbing.
Josh
