snowmonster
New member
Date(s) Skied: 5/2/2013
Resort or Ski Area: Hillman's Highway, Presidential Range, NH
Conditions: 70s in the valley, 40s up to; sunny in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon; minimal wind
Trip Report:
Finally scratched Hillman's Highway off the list.
The original plan was to ski the Gulf of Slides but after 20 minutes on the trail, something didn't feel right. I decided to listen to the voice in my head and turned around. Word in Pinkham Notch was that Hillman's and Left Gully were in very good shape so I decided to hit Hillman's.
I got to the base of Hillman's later than I wanted. TRT was snow covered more than halfway up. I was able to skin from HoJo's to Hillman's via the top part of the Sherburne. Hillman's had pretty good coverage -- except for the lower part where a brook had opened up right in the middle of the run. I climbed straight up, hugging the Christmas tree. I decided against getting to the ridge since it was getting late and clouds were moving in. I got around three-quarters of the way up and skied down in soft corn snow. The tricky part of the run was the brook that had opened up. To skiers right, the snow path was less than a ski length. Skiers' left was a little wider but covered in blue ice. I decided to hit the ice instead.
I headed up again. The bottom of Dodge's Drop still had good coverage so I hit that before calling it a day. There is a short portage over some rocks to get from Hillman's to the Sherburne.
The Sherburne is still skiable for about a third of the way down. However, there were numerous portages and, nearing the end, it was just thin ribbons of snow which barely concealed rocks. My guess is that they'll probably have to close the Sherb by the weekend.
Looking into Tux, it looks like there's a lot of good snow in there. Go for it!
Hillman's Highway from Hojo's
On the way up
Looking down
A river runs through it
Top of the Sherb
Resort or Ski Area: Hillman's Highway, Presidential Range, NH
Conditions: 70s in the valley, 40s up to; sunny in the morning, cloudy in the afternoon; minimal wind
Trip Report:
Finally scratched Hillman's Highway off the list.
The original plan was to ski the Gulf of Slides but after 20 minutes on the trail, something didn't feel right. I decided to listen to the voice in my head and turned around. Word in Pinkham Notch was that Hillman's and Left Gully were in very good shape so I decided to hit Hillman's.
I got to the base of Hillman's later than I wanted. TRT was snow covered more than halfway up. I was able to skin from HoJo's to Hillman's via the top part of the Sherburne. Hillman's had pretty good coverage -- except for the lower part where a brook had opened up right in the middle of the run. I climbed straight up, hugging the Christmas tree. I decided against getting to the ridge since it was getting late and clouds were moving in. I got around three-quarters of the way up and skied down in soft corn snow. The tricky part of the run was the brook that had opened up. To skiers right, the snow path was less than a ski length. Skiers' left was a little wider but covered in blue ice. I decided to hit the ice instead.
I headed up again. The bottom of Dodge's Drop still had good coverage so I hit that before calling it a day. There is a short portage over some rocks to get from Hillman's to the Sherburne.
The Sherburne is still skiable for about a third of the way down. However, there were numerous portages and, nearing the end, it was just thin ribbons of snow which barely concealed rocks. My guess is that they'll probably have to close the Sherb by the weekend.
Looking into Tux, it looks like there's a lot of good snow in there. Go for it!
Hillman's Highway from Hojo's
On the way up
Looking down
A river runs through it
Top of the Sherb
Last edited:
