Questions for the Mount Washington Skiers?

[deadheadskier]

1. What's the earliest in the season you've skied up there?

2. All the talk is waiting for spring corn, but what are the realistic mid-winter powder possibilities?

3. Many stick to just Tucks, but it appears that the Bretton side offers equally as good of terrain. Why is this part of the mountain less talked about / pursued?

3. Any good resource recommendations for the Bretton side trails? I really enjoy dmc's tux map and think it would be cool to see something similar for the west side of the mountain.

4. What is the average hike time for you up both sides?

5. Who'd be willing for me to tag along next winter for some Tux skiing?


Out of all my years skiing in New England (25), I've only motivated to do Tucks once. It was as a 19 year old just one time and I can't even remember the route I skied down....one of the gullys on the main bowl. It was just me and a friend and both of us had never skied up there, so we took off one late April morning from Vermont to experience it and took in one run. I want to say it was about five hours from the trail head to the top of the ravine. There's so much to experience up there and I'm not getting any younger. Next season I'd like to motivate and start experiencing the multiple options available up there.

So...for those that have something to share regarding their experiences up on the big rock pile, please do. I need some serious summer stoke to motivate myself to get into the necessary shape to join the ranks of the turn earners on the pinnacle of New England skiing.

[David Metsky]

1) I've skied the Sherburne and GoS trails in January, but not up on the steeps. You really need to have avalanche training to go up there at that time of year safely.

2) Again, it can be wonderful on occasion. It's also very often icy, crusty, and potentially deadly. You'll need to have full avy gear (probe, beacon, shovel, training) plus crampons, ice axe, and self-arrest training. Mid-winter skiing is not to be taken lightly. Others have reported great snow at times, so it can be rewarding, but only for the prepared.

3) There's aren't any real guides to the terrain on the west side of the mountain. The Goodman book has some basic info. It's best to go with someone who knows the area and learn that way.

4) There's no average time, it varies a lot. It's much quicker up from Tuckerman then from Ammonoosuc even though you start higher on the west side. The Ammonoosuc Ravine trail is steep and narrow; the Tuckerman Ravine trail is a road. You can make it to the Ravine in 2 hours, expect at least that to reach Lakes of the Clouds, much more if you have to break trail.

5) Spend some time on Time For Tuckerman and you'll find lots of folks who go up there on a regular basis.

5 hours from the trailhead to the top of the ravine is awfully slow. If you do it more often you might learn how to cut weight, speed up the pace, and enjoy it more. There's lots of great skiing up there that you haven't yet experienced. Without experience in the real backcountry (Tucks isn't really backcountry) I'd be reluctant to suggest trying some of the stuff on the west side of the hill.

There's still skiing this season; are you sure you're done for the year?

[riverc0il]

Earliest I have been up is April but as David Metsky mentioned, the ravine can be skied during the winter with full avi gear and training pending appropriate conditions. Personally, I would rather be riding the lifts than going into potentially, perhaps even likely, dangerous terrain with strong avalanche risk. That just isn't my thing but lots of people with the right gear and training do it regularly and often find good conditions. The Sherburne and Gulf of Slides Ski trails are excellent ways to get a taste of the experience during mid-winter with hardly any risk.

If you are curious about options from the West side of the mountain, Time For Tuckerman often has some reports. Though those options are much more remote and more challenging from a backcountry perspective unlike Tuckerman (backcountry by definition but not by experience) and Gulf of Slides. If you have done Tuckerman and want to branch out a bit more, GoS is a good starting place to get a feel for backcountry on Mount Washington and then you can go from there.

I go frequently during the spring so let me know when you are heading up! Just post here or on T4T and you'll find someone on almost any given weekend to hook up with. Heck, get up there this weekend! Why wait until next year? Still plenty of snow.

[deadheadskier]

I appreciate the feedback and agree that there is still time left in the season to go. There's a couple of things holding me back. I do have several work and family obligations that though I could skip, wouldn't be viewed in a positive light. The bigger hold up is my fitness. Right now I just don't feel in the shape I'd like to be in for the hike. I could do it for sure, but I want to do it in the right condition, so I'm just asking questions and have every intention of making a trip or two next spring.

[SIKSKIER]

As mentioned before,check out time for tuckermans website and check out the trip reports.I have friends that go every full moon weekend all winter but some of the best skiing of the year and safest is April and May.There is still plenty of skiing left.

[andyzee]

Originally Posted by deadheadskier

I appreciate the feedback and agree that there is still time left in the season to go. There's a couple of things holding me back. I do have several work and family obligations that though I could skip, wouldn't be viewed in a positive light. The bigger hold up is my fitness. Right now I just don't feel in the shape I'd like to be in for the hike. I could do it for sure, but I want to do it in the right condition, so I'm just asking questions and have every intention of making a trip or two next spring.

I'm 51 yrs old, up until about a month ago weighed in at about 260. Went up to Mt. Washington last week with an 85 lbs pack. My only training was walking 4 miles a day for 3-4 days a week, (OK, I'm a bit unusual). Bottom line I did ok. In your case, I would recommend a day trip, with nothing but essentials. Last year my last day at Tux was on 5/27. Here's a flick from that day, I'm the fat gaper skiing down at the end:

Just Do It!

[davidhowland14]

I can never listen to that song anymore after actually vomiting spaghetti. It's nasty.

cue jumpturn...

[ski220]

I will have to opinion that earlier season skiing on Mt. Washington is much better than late skiing in Tuckerman Ravine. Earlier there is much more terrain to choose from and you get a decent run all the way back to the base. Perhaps the nicest benefit is that you can skin up the Sherburne trail. Way much nicer than hiking.

Defiantly do not limit yourselves to Tuckerman Ravine. It is not the best skiing - just the best at holding skiable snow late into the year. Before you venture up be sure to check the web for the official weather and avalanche conditions. Things can and do turn real nasty up there.

Here's some footage from last year. Skinned up through the Ravine but came down the hanging valley between Tuckerman and Huntington. We then skinned backup the hiking trail to HJ's and skied down the Shurborne.

[riverc0il]

Originally Posted by ski220

I will have to opinion that earlier season skiing on Mt. Washington is much better than late skiing in Tuckerman Ravine. Earlier there is much more terrain to choose from and you get a decent run all the way back to the base. Perhaps the nicest benefit is that you can skin up the Sherburne trail. Way much nicer than hiking.

I will echo that it is best to go early enough in the spring to be able to skin up and ski down without hiking and earlier in the spring you get the most terrain. But before spring hits there is avalanche danger. Which of course limits the number of people up there so if you have the gear and the training and are okay with the risk, cool! Most people will probably find the best options in early April but of course that varies year to year.

[dmc]

most importantly... have fun...




Watch for slough...