Brief Ski Tour of the "Lower" Ossipees!

[Becca M]

Jan 14 - time to see how the skiing is! The short answer: not all that great, but, a decent day anyway. I was excited to explore the carriage roads (snowmobile trails in winter) in the southern Ossipees. Took Shannon Brook, Turtleback Mountain Trail and some Bald Knob Cutoffs and only got as far as Turtleback Mtn and Bald Knob-- prime time before heavy snow and snowmobile traffic sets in!!!!

Not much trailbreaking, but, I still had some work to do to punch in some tracks. I was hoping for some turns but, other than some ski-whacking, I didn't do anything I'd consider graceful!!!!

The "Warren Miller" shot - No, I wasn't going to ski off these rocks... unless I slipped!!! Rocks were slippery even with the skins on!!!

Another look from Turtleback Mtn:

Pretty patterns - when yours are the only tracks out there:

From the turnaround atop Bald Knob: a nice bench looking out to Gunstock Ski Area - where I was heading to practice some real turns later that day:

Side-slabbing my way back down from Bald Knob. It was way too smooth. I had to head into the woods next... how long could a mile in the woods be? Turns out WAAAY too long with no good skiing!!!

I hope you enjoy!!!! --Becca

 

[freighttrain48]

A less than ideal ski tour it still better than no ski tour!

 

[RoySwkr]

For a real challenge, why not try skiing to the 6 old lookout tower sites (marked by +) in one day:
http://img.geocaching.com/cache/large/1e3579df-3f75-404e-bcb0-0ef3ed1481e6.jpg

They all had carriage roads, but the one to the true summit of Faraway is overgrown and should be considered a bushwhack:
http://vftt.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2322&d=1222446459

 

[JacobH]

The last time I was up on the loop by Faraway, there was somewhat clearly-defined path just before "the bench" outlook. We didn't realize it was the actual "trail" until we reached the bench and decided it wasn't worth turning around. FWIW, The bench itself is a destination worthy of visiting on it's own merits.

All these Ossipee posts have inspired me to take a snowshoe trip up that way this weekend, methinks.

edit: I guess on the map it's called the Faraway mountain outlook.