Baxter in the Winter

[Angus]

Looking for any first hand knowledge about a winter expedition to Baxter. Not concerned about application process - the lead has that covered but more about logistics. Specifically, in our group, we have some ice climbers and some downhill skiers - like to accommodate both. I've only submitted via chimney pond - so not familiar with Abol side.

Here are some specific questions -

Are there skiable lines accessible from chimney pond? Note: I don't mind crampons but technical climbing - ropes - is not my thing! I'm comfortable with a tuck's sort of thing. I'm a skier not an ice climber!

I've read that you can go from the winter gate to chimney pond in a day but it's a real hump. going down on skis - I figure gravity is your friend and is do-able in a day. Comments.

I do not own AT skis - can these be rented in eastern MA, coastal NH or ME - on the way from Boston to ME.

Thanks to all for any feedback/suggestions.

 

[MichaelJ]

I haven't downhill bc skied there, but I have xc/bc skied in Baxter in winter. By that I mean 3-pin, metal edges, plastic boots, long skinny straight heavy-duty cross-country skis (Karhu Pyxis). I stayed on the other side of the mountain, skiing in from the parking area at Abol Bridge over to the Tote Road and up to Daicey pond pulling a big pulk sled. That was I think a 12-mile day just to get in, and it was tough in fresh snow right after a nor'easter, despite being fairly smooth. We came back on the AT and that was a pretty solid woods experience.

Going to Chimney you *must* spend the first night at Roaring Brook. That is a Baxter rule and it's enforced. You can come out in a day. The skiing to Roaring Brook will be on the road and mellow. The skiing to Chimney will be steeper; either snowshoes, or skins and heel lifts are what I've heard to be recommended. Coming down that pitch with a pulk sled can be a challenge.

Baxter in winter is worth the effort. I hope someone can chime in on the downhill possibilities.

 

[cbcbd]

Hey Angus,
First, I'm not sure the rangers will let you day trip to chimney pond and rightfully so, it is a haul to get up there - 15 miles one way from Abol bridge. The first 12 are flat or rolling hills to Roaring Brook, the last 3 are uphill to Chimney Pond. On the way back you could ski most of the way (95%) from Chimney to Roaring brook. From there back to Abol you'd have to skin the rolling hills and flats... so not necessarily too fast on the way back. And all of this would also depend on conditions on the road and trail. When we were up there this last winter we went in during a storm that dumped 1' of fresh and was falling on the way in. Hauling a sled and skinning through deepish powder is a lot more work then the frozen hardpack we had on the way out. So that's already 30 miles and only gets you to Chimney P and back... then you gotta do your skiing/climbing.

But, there are skiable lines from Chimney Pond. If you watch the Meathead's Epoch they ski lines in the Great Basin area. Some shots of the Great basin, which is to the right of South Basin
http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2570429290064115915koPapR
http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2065959560064115915lYEKXf
http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2349380360064115915bJMxcG
http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2012773900064115915uCVxqh

From our group, two of us skinned in with our AT gear hoping to do some skiing in the Great Basin. To get there it's just merely skinning up the Saddle Trail a couple miles and that puts you at the back bottom of the basin... from there just pick your gully. Well, with the new snow we kept off the gullies due to avy concerns. We tried skiing this drainage recommended by the ranger but it was a bust - with 2' of powder in it it was too low angle and we were going nowhere fast.

Of the 3.5 days we had there in Chimney, only the first had powder to ski but high avy danger (I think with more avy experience we could've probably have skied something). The second day was very wet and damp and temps dropped (perfect for consolidating snow and setting off any slabs that could go off). Again, not perfect for skiing in the area. The next day was the best weather day and so it was summit day. The last day was extremely foggy, I believe it was a mandatory "no-above-treeline-travel" day from the rangers so most of us tooled around locally in the CP area.

I guess the best thing for planning a ski trip up there would be to go later... sometime in late March, when the chances of having a consolidated snowpack would be greater. I wouldn't go planning less than 3 full days at Chimney. You already have to plan 2 days to go in and one day for going out (and depending where you live, an extra day just for driving)... it's not worth it to go in hauling your stuff for less days there, IMO... plus, trust me, once you are in there you don't want to leave. The new cabin is very nice and there is no better setting to hang out with your friends for a week. Not many people camp out in the Chimney P leantos in the winter, so it's basically your group and the ranger up there, with these huge basins and the mountain basically to yourself.
Also, the extra days are good to have in case of bad weather.

AT ski rental - I'm not sure, but the Portland, ME EMS might rent AT skis.

Here is a TR from our trip there last winter:
http://viewsfromthetop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21217

It is really amazing up there... nothing else like it in the NE US.

 

[Angus]

thanks to both - good stuff. the pixs are fantastic. I have the meathead dvd and was trying to figure out where that was filmed. my one time there in the summer was a day hike across knife edge in perfect weather from roaring brook - you are right about its' uniqueness.

 

[Smellytele]

I have been there mostly for summiting and ice climbing. I skinned (tele gear) in to roaring brook where they make you stay the 1st night. Then hiked up to Chimney pond. It was noted that you could ski back to roaring brook on you way out but the trail is not very wide and if you tow a sled would be quite the adventure. I just left my ski stuff at roaring brook all 3 times I have been. Skiing out from roaring brook is not that much faster than hiking out. It is faster to the toll both but after that that really. 1 time we had 2 feet of fresh snow and had to break trail the whole way. The guys with snow shoes were almost as fast (sans 15 minutes). If it is icy, hikers are faster in both directions. If I went again I would just leave my skis at home.

 

[cbcbd]

If I went again I would just leave my skis at home.

If I wasn't going in there for just skiing I probably would leave the skis at home. With the iffy weather of winter I would probably only go back for climbing anyway - better chance of getting good climbing than skiing.

The fastest guys in deep snow were on snowshoes. One guy had XC skis to/from Roaring brook and ditched them for snowshoes up to CP. That worked pretty well and he flew on the way out since conditions were icy on the road.

I skied down from CP to Roaring Brook with the sled. I kept my skins on for the beginning of it to help control speed and for the flattish parts. I had some trouble with the sled but other than that it was ok when we were there since the trail became a trough towards the bottom.