Lakeview (1000' 5.5) is a wonderful ramble up Cannon's exfoliated northern slabs. The line is not particularly distinctive or grand, but the climb is nonetheless interesting and varied. Most importantly, Lakeview is the easiest way to access the big ledge beneath the Old Man, the rock feature whose profile forms the state symbol of New Hampshire. The final two pitches around this feature (the Wiessner corner and the pitch preceding it) are the best finishing pitches on any climb I've ever done! The views down to Franconia Notch and Profile Lake, and across to Franconia Ridge, are just spectacular too.

Lakeview is a great and relatively safe introduction to Cannon, because a traverse off into the trees would most likely be possible (for a lot of the way) in case of a storm. Pro is great except for one run-out slab section, but that's straightforward enough. And if it rains on you during pitch three, don't worry - it always rains on pitch three. It'll blow over.

Once again, I did this climb the first time with Susan Ruff. (She made me lead the grunt-flake on the final pitch! Ride 'em, cowboy...) I went back again soon after with Emma, and later with Pat Brown. Emma found the climb slightly overwhelming. The cold winds and rain squall that we had, combined with the awkward move into the Wiessner corner on the top pitch, accumulated into quite an intimidating experience. She coped in style, and the hug she gave me at the top I will never forget. (Thanks Emma!) Pat was equally fun to climb with, for different reasons - he is as gung-ho enthusiastic about adventures as I am, and showed his enjoyment of the climb abundantly.

On this page are some photos of Lakeview, taken when I climbed it with Pat. Click for a closer look...

The Lakeview route description as found in the out-of-print Webster guidebook, Rock Climbs in the White Mountains of New Hampshire (Second Edition).

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UPDATE (5 May 2003): The Old Man fell down! An extremely sad day. Is the Wiessner Corner consigned to history?