Mount Washington snowfields

[loafer89]

Bob R and I are interested in skiing some snowfields that are accesable from the auto road on Mount Washington without anything really strenuous or difficult that would be appropriate for kids. Can anyone give me some pointers on where to go for this off of the auto road. Can this stuff be hiked with ski boots on?

Thanks

 

[Angus]

I asked this question last year with the same idea in mind, here's the link

http://forums.alpinezone.com/7450-upper-snow-fields-washington-2.html?highlight=upper+snowfields

somewhere maybe here or at http://www.timefortuckerman.com/

someone wrote a trip report with pixs documenting driving up with their children and skiing last year. they had a great time - unfortunately, I couldn't find it.

it seems a bit difficult to hike up - good luck and let me know your solution/results, I think it would be a great trip.

 

[awf170]

I have never been up there(most likely will be there next weekend though) but from what I gather it is right off the auto road and you ski down then hike back up to your car. You hike back up in your ski boots. Not too sure if it will be okay for kids though, its not steep for Mt. Washington stanards but is probably steeper than almost anything inbounds.

 

[redalienx11]

That exactly what I plan on doing next week(end). I'll see how it works out then...sounds like it shouldn't be too bad.

 

[awf170]

That exactly what I plan on doing next week(end). I'll see how it works out then...sounds like it shouldn't be too bad.

Sweet. Your like 17 or 18 y.o. right? Seems like we could have some sort of AZ gathering up there.:smile:

 

[redalienx11]

Sweet. Your like 17 or 18 y.o. right? Seems like we could have some sort of AZ gathering up there.:smile:

yeah I'm 17... I'm thinking of Saturday, May 6th and/or sunday the 7th. That would be cool if we could meetup somehow.

 

[awf170]

Bob R and I are interested in skiing some snowfields that are accesable from the auto road on Mount Washington without anything really strenuous or difficult that would be appropriate for kids. Can anyone give me some pointers on where to go for this off of the auto road. Can this stuff be hiked with ski boots on?

Thanks

Alright, just did some math for you guys to figure out the steepness. And what I found is the average steepness is 30 degrees.:-o For comparision White Nitro(not including the flatter section up top) is 30 degrees also, Paradise at MRG which is thought to be the steepest inbounds trail/glade in the east is 32 degrees.

 

[riverc0il]

good number crunching austin! while 30 degrees is not very steep for mount washington and you don't have to hike far from the parking lot to access the terrain, it is worth noting that this is still back country on new england's most deadly peak. if clouds roll in and you get stuck with 50 feet of visibility or less, you are going to have to find your way back up to the cars and need to know where you are skiing towards.

 

[Vortex]

Good points and thankx guys. Austin with the math.8)

 

[ga2ski]

Bob R and I are interested in skiing some snowfields that are accesable from the auto road on Mount Washington without anything really strenuous or difficult that would be appropriate for kids. Can anyone give me some pointers on where to go for this off of the auto road. Can this stuff be hiked with ski boots on?

Thanks

Loafer I don't know you, but Bob should stop being so lazy and hike into Tux. It is well worth the walk. I won't even get into my feelings about the autoroad let alone skiing using the auto road.

 

[Vortex]

GA2ski you wuss. The cookout/ slash... wear your dress party is not till Sunday.:smash: I'll hike tucks with you if your allowed out:wink: . Just tryuing to find some options with folks that know this aspect of skiing better than me. Ow ya I am lazy.:beer:

 

[ga2ski]

Hey if I'm not skiing that day, I'll be out on the bike for a few hours.

You really should hike it even if you don't carry in all the gear. It is beautiful up there. I'll let you know. I'm trying to decide if I'm going tomorrow, but it looks like it may stay firm (only getting into the low 30's at the summit). I'm not going to hike up to slide down on frozen crud. Anyone have intell form Today?

 

[loafer89]

Loafer I don't know you, but Bob should stop being so lazy and hike into Tux. It is well worth the walk. I won't even get into my feelings about the autoroad let alone skiing using the auto road.

I am not really big on hiking, let alone hiking to ski, but I did Tuckerman Ravine in May of 1990. At this point my son is not ready for the ravine, and I am not up for carrying his equiptment for him either. We are looking for a small-medium sized snowfield to make some turns on if possible. We would like to do Tuckerman in a few years when my son has improved his sking ability and is strong enough for the hike and carrying his gear.

I really do not mind how people get up Mount Washington, as long as they have fun up there and respect the fact that it is home to some very fierce weather conditions.

 

[ga2ski]

I am not really big on hiking, let alone hiking to ski, but I did Tuckerman Ravine in May of 1990. At this point my son is not ready for the ravine, and I am not up for carrying his equiptment for him either. We are looking for a small-medium sized snowfield to make some turns on if possible. We would like to do Tuckerman in a few years when my son has improved his sking ability and is strong enough for the hike and carrying his gear.

I really do not mind how people get up Mount Washington, as long as they have fun up there and respect the fact that it is home to some very fierce weather conditions.

That is cool . .. . . We can agree to disagree . . . Do your son a favor and let him wait until he is old enough to hike into the ravine. It will make the experience that more enjoyable for both of you when he finially gets there.

 

[Breeze]

good number crunching austin! while 30 degrees is not very steep for mount washington and you don't have to hike far from the parking lot to access the terrain, it is worth noting that this is still back country on new england's most deadly peak. if clouds roll in and you get stuck with 50 feet of visibility or less, you are going to have to find your way back up to the cars and need to know where you are skiing towards.

Yep.

And FYI--- no guarantee that you'll be able to get there via Auto Road any time soon. Sure, the Road is open ( just) today to Halfway, but you can't hike from there!.


Breeze

 

[ga2ski]

Breeze - do me a favor and search all cars for skis prior to allowing them up the road.;-)

 

[riverc0il]

ga2ski, you seem to be seriously against usage of the auto road for skiing purposes, could you explain your reasoning? i am very much an "earn your turns" advocate, but look at the auto road as an interesting way of earning turns. my previous comment was a sort of warning to the first time backcountry skier, i do think people could easily get in over their heads, but that is true in any area and it is not like people are using the auto road to access tucks, we are talking about the snowfields. and many also use it for access to airplane and pipeline which is a sensable option given the hike to clay col. just curious why you seem so against the practice, thanks!

 

[ga2ski]

I'm just against the auto road . .period. I think If you are going to be atop the highest mountain in the northeast it should be by your own power. That being said I understand that it is tourist attraction and important to the economy in the region.

You think I'm against it, you should talk to some on through hikers on the AT. To quote one woman i met on the AT while hiking the Wildcats, "I hate the fact that I hiked all the way to the top of the hioghest peak in the NE from Georgia and have hundreds of lazy people milling around the summit marker".

Okay i'll try to refrain from making another other comments. Not guaranteeing anything though.

 

[riverc0il]

i think those AT'ers should get off their high horse, with all due respect. here is a story from last season:

i was getting ready to hike up to tuckerman ravine from pinkham notch visitor center. a middle aged couple approached me to ask me some questions. the gentleman had a problem with his leg of some sort but could still walk. they saw all the skiers packing their gear up and had heard about the ravine. they inquired if there was any easy way to get to the ravine to which i replied no, it was a 2.5 mile hike up rocky path with occasional steep sections. they were devistated and i felt really bad for them that they could not enjoy what i was about to.

now i am definitely not advocating for handicap access to tucker man ravine. however, i think having some higher peak tourist attractions such as cannon, wildcat, loon, and mount washington in the WMNF is a REALLY good thing. not everyone can get to the top of these mountains on their own power, be they elderly, too young, or have some sort of deformnet or injury. kids being taken up might someday be inspired to climb it on their own. i think very limited access to some really great places is a good thing.

did those AT hikers also have an issue with the blue ridge parkway and a road nearly to the top of mount mitchell, highest peak in the east? how about greylock? gondola at kmart? AT hikers with a grudge and chip on their shoulder might do well to avoid the summit of washington (does that AT techincally even go to the summit?).

now the cog is a different story but it is part of the same specticle that is mount washington, so i conceed it its place relunctently. da cog churns nasty smoke into the air and noise pollution and can ruin the natural feel of the area (away from the summit, at least, miles away from the summit even). but it is part of the history of the mountain. people originally summited washington by a carriage road. crawford and davis paths opened the way to mount washington for tourists not earning the summit on their own two feet. washington has perhaps the deepest and longest running history of serving tourists out of any mountain in the united states. from a historical perspective, people hiking to the summit for their own enjoyment is a rather late developing reason for going to the top.

don't refrain ga2ski! people air your thoughts on the topic. i understand and appreciate your perspective and that of others, but i do not agree. makes for interesting conversation though

 

[awf170]

Yeah...
Anyway, so who is in for the opening at saterday. Riverc0il?(I could give you a ride up and you could ever have the complimentary "this car climbing mt. wash sticker":lol redalienx11? Me and my dad will be there as long as the weather is good. Might think about dropping into Tucks if the weather is good, though it was would suck pretty bad if the weather got bad and you had to hike back down and some how get you car back later.