David Metsky
New member
Date(s) Skied: 2/19-20/05
Resort or Ski Area: John Sherburne ski trail, Wildcat Valley trail
Conditions: Variable, from death cookies to hardpack to powder
Trip Report: Brenda and I led and AMC Boston Chapter ski trip for some backcountry tours in the Presidentials. Our plans were somewhat modified by snow conditions, but we had a fine time.
Saturday we skinned up the Sherburne ski trail. Conditions were, um, firm. Thankfully the snow cat had cut up the trail and it was skiable but down low things looked dicey, death cookies and hardpack. As we climbed higher, the snow got a bit less firm, the views got spectacular, and sun warmed everything up. At Hojos the views into the Ravine were amazing, and we even spotted two brave souls dropping down over the headwall. They skied it very well, not sure exactly what conditions were like up there but it sure looked pretty.
We decided to go up the Little Headwall and we were treated to some nice powder-like conditions. It was well worth the extra effort, and things look like they could be pretty good with the snow that fell on Monday. We regrouped at Hojos and headed on down with a mix of tele, parallel, and some killer snowplow. Again, up top things were more forgiving, lower down things got somewhat sketchy. Especially down lower the woods had a killer breakable crust.
Sunday, the group split into two, with a bit of a clustermark as we arranged cars and gear. A group of six were dropped off at Wildcat while three headed to Jackson X-C. We dropped off the back of the ski area just around noon and headed down the crusty and unforgiving Wildcat Valley trail. Conditions were sub-optimal, and crashes were frequent and occasionally spectacular. The birch glades looked inviting, but looks can be decieving. Ah, breakable crust.
We stopped for lunch at Hall's Ledge with the only other skiers we saw, a group of 7 from Canada who were on heavier gear and were doing a bit better than we did. We had expected to hit the groomed trail, but Jackson hadn't groomed all of their trails yet. This was probably the lowpoint of the trip, as we were a bit tired from fighting the conditions all the way and we all went into pure survival mode. Eventually we hit the groomed track and the last mile or so went very quickly and without incident. We got to Mike's truck at 4:00 and met up with the other group at Jackson around 4:30.
Monday it snowed, sounds like about 6" of fluffy snow came down. Not sure how this will change the conditions for either route, but it can't help but improve it.
Some pictures:
Album 1 - Heading up Sherburne and skiers on headwall
Album 2 - Skiing the Little Headwall, a fine crash on the Wildcat trail
More photos and captions to come.
-dave-
Resort or Ski Area: John Sherburne ski trail, Wildcat Valley trail
Conditions: Variable, from death cookies to hardpack to powder
Trip Report: Brenda and I led and AMC Boston Chapter ski trip for some backcountry tours in the Presidentials. Our plans were somewhat modified by snow conditions, but we had a fine time.
Saturday we skinned up the Sherburne ski trail. Conditions were, um, firm. Thankfully the snow cat had cut up the trail and it was skiable but down low things looked dicey, death cookies and hardpack. As we climbed higher, the snow got a bit less firm, the views got spectacular, and sun warmed everything up. At Hojos the views into the Ravine were amazing, and we even spotted two brave souls dropping down over the headwall. They skied it very well, not sure exactly what conditions were like up there but it sure looked pretty.
We decided to go up the Little Headwall and we were treated to some nice powder-like conditions. It was well worth the extra effort, and things look like they could be pretty good with the snow that fell on Monday. We regrouped at Hojos and headed on down with a mix of tele, parallel, and some killer snowplow. Again, up top things were more forgiving, lower down things got somewhat sketchy. Especially down lower the woods had a killer breakable crust.
Sunday, the group split into two, with a bit of a clustermark as we arranged cars and gear. A group of six were dropped off at Wildcat while three headed to Jackson X-C. We dropped off the back of the ski area just around noon and headed down the crusty and unforgiving Wildcat Valley trail. Conditions were sub-optimal, and crashes were frequent and occasionally spectacular. The birch glades looked inviting, but looks can be decieving. Ah, breakable crust.
We stopped for lunch at Hall's Ledge with the only other skiers we saw, a group of 7 from Canada who were on heavier gear and were doing a bit better than we did. We had expected to hit the groomed trail, but Jackson hadn't groomed all of their trails yet. This was probably the lowpoint of the trip, as we were a bit tired from fighting the conditions all the way and we all went into pure survival mode. Eventually we hit the groomed track and the last mile or so went very quickly and without incident. We got to Mike's truck at 4:00 and met up with the other group at Jackson around 4:30.
Monday it snowed, sounds like about 6" of fluffy snow came down. Not sure how this will change the conditions for either route, but it can't help but improve it.
Some pictures:
Album 1 - Heading up Sherburne and skiers on headwall
Album 2 - Skiing the Little Headwall, a fine crash on the Wildcat trail
More photos and captions to come.
-dave-
