We couldn't bring ourselves to seriously consider #1. Number two sounded like a great time but a potentially very dumb idea. The third option was the frontrunner, but the last bit about crowds would be tough. It was Saturday, and folks were getting terribly impatient with the conditions. We decided to try Streamline (NEI 2), a long, multipitch snow and ice route that follows a streambed originating in Willey Brook up to a col between Mts. Willey and Willard.

We should have known what we were getting into when we saw temps in Jackson. 47F. This is very, very warm, folks. This is too warm to be climbing ice. If there is any ice.

We did the drive, once again, to Crawford Notch, took the last space in the pullout, got our gear together, then began the walk in over the tracks. It was in the high 30s in the Notch. We had seen a party of two head out just in front of us. About fifteen minutes later we saw them coming back our way. When our paths crossed, they asked us if we were headed to do Cinema.

"Nope," we say. "You?"
"Mobbed," the two men say, shaking their heads in disgust. "And it's too warm. I think we're going to go do a hike."

Brian and I were all over it. I barely beat him to it:
"Well-if-you're-looking-for-an-ice-climb-we-can-most-assuredly-
tell-you-that-Hitchcock-Gully-is-in-in-in-why-just-yesterday-we-
climbed-it-and-the-first-pitch-is-like-it-always-is-you-know-a-bit-thin-
but-doable-and-then-the-second-pitch-is-just-fantastic-fat-thunker-ice-
and-you-really-should-if-you're-considering-climbing-you-really-should-
give-it-a-try-and-the-approach-is-just-fine-and-well-kicked-out-and-
what-a-great-day-it-was-and-can-and-will-be-for-you-if-you'll-just-give-
that-sweet-little-aim-to-please-route-a-chance."

The two guys looked like they didn't believe us. So we restated our points, they looked at us again sort of cross-eyed, then turned around and looked like they were going to give it a go.