Skiing/Snowboarding Mt. Washington

[mookie]

Just curious as to how many people here have done any skiing/snowboarding on mt. washington. every year i say i want to but never have anyone to go up there with. I know giggy would be along for the hike, but riding alone wouldnt be that fun.
Wondering what the typical washington trip is, route up/down, camping, best times to go etc..
thanks

 

[teleskier]

Catch a warm, sunny weekend in April, head for Tucks, and you won't be alone...

Most of the big ravines and such have a non-trivial avalanche risk, so spring is the favored ski time for most folks, after the snowpack has settled. But, it certainly gets skied all winter long. Tuckerman ravine, the Gulf of Slides, Oakes gulf, Monroe gully, the Great Gulf and lots of other places on the mtn offer superb skiing and riding. Check out http://timefortuckerman.com/ for a good sense of what the scene is like.

 

[David Metsky]

Skiing/Riding Mt Washington can cover a whole range of trips. The standard trip for the ages is the hike up to Tuckerman Ravine in spring and ski/ride the many routes there. While you won't be alone up there, it's still backcountry. You're responsible for taking care of yourself with food, water, gear, etc. There is avalanche, ice fall, and terrain dangers that are not trivial. Trying to ski there earlier in the winter season is much riskier, with the avalanche danger in particular ranging from dangerous to severely dangerous.

There are many other places to ski on the Mt Washington massif. Other ravines (Gulf of Slide, Oakes, Great Gulf) offer runs of all levels of difficulties. They are all much more remote and shouldn't be taken lightly. Those are not places to try without someone who has been there before and can evaluate avalanche and terrain dangers.

A fine trip in mid-winter is to skin up the Tuckerman Ravine trail to HoJos or the base of the ravine, and then ski back down the Sherbourne trail. That's a good way to get a feel of the distances and terrain. There are several ski trails around Pinkham, such as the Avalanche Brook trail that offers more touring options.

Get the David Goodman book "Backcountry Ski Adventures (NH and ME)" to start, and find some folks to ski with. I don't recommend heading up there solo if you've never done backcountry skiing before, or if you've never skied on Washington before.

-dave-

 

[giggy]

well go this april for sure. me for climbling and you for boarding - camp at hermit lake and make a a party out of it - maybe get a poopload of us to go.

from what I hear of your boarding ablities and stints out west - I think you find it right up your alley. I think most gullies in tucks are 40 to 50 degreed angled.

hopefully you can meet sherpakroto next tues night - he has skied many of them. he would be best to talk to -

 

[Mr. X]

I was wondering if you could ski Moosilauke?

 

[mookie]

ill have to search fot that book, thanks for the info dave.

yeah figured you (giggy) would be into it.

probably would want to stay away from tucks and maybee hit another less populated route, have been up there and seen the masses in spring.

Hopefully be able to get some others to ride with.

 

[DougPaul]

I was wondering if you could ski Moosilauke?

Yes. Description is in Goodman's guidebook.

Even I have done it so it can't be too hard...

Doug

 

[DougPaul]

probably would want to stay away from tucks and maybee hit another less populated route, have been up there and seen the masses in spring.

Go during the week.

Doug

 

[king tut]

I skiied tucks back about 10 years ago in the middle of May, and it was a noreaster that day. By the time we climbed up the ravine(the right hand side near lion's head) there was already 6+ inches of snow on the ground, and it was the funnest ski run i have ever had. That was the year of the record snow amounts. The sherburne trail was open almost all the way to the bottom. Anyone who hasn't done tucks once, needs to before they die.

 

[trailbiscuit]

Skiing Tucks is a blast. Just don't go on a weekend in May. You're more likely to be killled by a drunk, snow tubing moron in a speedo than an avalanche or falling ice.

Seek the quieter places. Personally, I've been planning to ski Oakes Gulf for about 10 years...still planning.