New England Alpine Touring ???

[Anklebiter]

Are there any companies in New England that specialize in Alpine Touring. I'm interested in possibly doing this kind of ski trip in a few years, but I'm a serious novice when it comes to slack,side & backcountry type skiing.

I don't think I'd have any problems with the cardio and skiing, but lack the knowledge and exprience in skiing outside the boundaries. I really like the idea of earn my turns.

 

[Puck it]

Try these guys

http://www.chauvinguides.com/iceprograms.htm

 

[redalienx11]

There is alot of backcountry education that can be learned best through experience. However, one thing that is EXTREMELY important is avalanche education. It is very risky to "learn" avalanche safety through trial and error. EMS offers some avy education courses on Mount Washington I think. It could be argued that if you dont plan on skiing in avy terrain, then you wouldnt need the course, but it can't hurt, you will want to ski avy terrain eventually, you will meet cool people, and the guides will be happy to answer other AT related questions.

I learned alot about backcountry travel through reading books as well. One that comes to mind is this one : http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Mikes-Really-Cool-Backcountry/dp/1575400766 very accessible an a fun read.

 

[Edd]

EMS in North Conway also provides these services.

 

[snowmonster]

Are there any companies in New England that specialize in Alpine Touring. I'm interested in possibly doing this kind of ski trip in a few years, but I'm a serious novice when it comes to slack,side & backcountry type skiing.

I don't think I'd have any problems with the cardio and skiing, but lack the knowledge and exprience in skiing outside the boundaries. I really like the idea of earn my turns.

EMS does a whole series of backcountry skiing clinics and AIARE courses: http://emsski.com/newhampshire_northconway_backcountryski.shtml.

I maybe taking the AIARE courses or maybe backcountry 201. Let me know if you decide to sign-up.

 

[riverc0il]

Anklebiter- Don't worry about the Avi education. Don't let that type of thing scare you. I have been earning turns for a half dozen years and never took an Avi course. I also don't enter avalanche terrain when there is any Avi danger/risk. I acknowledge I miss out on some great days and great skiing. That is my choice. You can try out touring without Avi education for sure no matter what you decide down the road. The most important thing is that you give it a shot so you can discover how much fun it is!

North Conway is a really great place to try things out. There are a few places that do rentals and then--after a short drive to Pinkham--you can skin up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and ski down the Sherburne Ski Trail. This is a great intro tour (it was my first one) since it is in a fairly controlled environment (for the BC). Doublehead is also just outside of North Conway and is a less traveled option.

 

[Anklebiter]

Thanks for all the insight and advice. I've seen the avi and outdoor safety course in Backcountry Skiing Mag and I'm definately interested in doing course in future. I'll be up in North Conway in February, so that will give me the chance to look around. I was explaining to my 10 year old what Alpine Touring is. He's was like, "That's really cool dad, can I go". I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I guess I'll be buying some Alpine Tourning ski, boots and binding in a couple of years.

 

[atkinson]

rc,

There is no time that entering avi terrain involves no avy risk. Don't ignore the resources available to learn more about all the factors involved in safe backcountry travel. I set off a wet spring slide one April in the Great Gulf after two weeks of low ratings and no new snow.

Sugarbush has some excellent programs too. Check www.sugarbush.com.

John

 

[Cannonball]

Probably the best place to get started is by reading David Goodman's books. He has volumes on VT/NY and NH/ME. These guides provide lot's of good basic info and history as well as well described tours with maps. While they only scratch the surface in terms of potential tours they are an excellent starting point. Both of the tours Riverc0il mentions are detailed in his NH book.

 

[crank]

Appalachian Mountain Club has back country skiing and avalanche courses in the Whites as well.

Goodman's book is an excellent place to start. I have been touring here and there for a few years and have not had any training , but I have not yet ventured into avy territory either.

 

[Anklebiter]

Probably the best place to get started is by reading David Goodman's books. He has volumes on VT/NY and NH/ME. These guides provide lot's of good basic info and history as well as well described tours with maps. While they only scratch the surface in terms of potential tours they are an excellent starting point. Both of the tours Riverc0il mentions are detailed in his NH book.

Thanks, I have to get it off of Amazon.

 

[Anklebiter]

How many of you guys and gals use Alpine Touring equipment to hike on closed ski areas.

 

[riverc0il]

rc,

There is no time that entering avi terrain involves no avy risk. Don't ignore the resources available to learn more about all the factors involved in safe backcountry travel. I set off a wet spring slide one April in the Great Gulf after two weeks of low ratings and no new snow.

Sugarbush has some excellent programs too. Check www.sugarbush.com.

John

Sorry, John. Should have said "very little risk". I actually have read Bruce Tremper's book and am familiar with safe travel and some of the more interesting challenges the mountain can throw at you during spring skiing. All I am suggesting is that you can get into turn earning without taking an avi course. The above warning made it sound like an avi course is a prereq for buying At gear.

 

[Hawkshot99]

How many of you guys and gals use Alpine Touring equipment to hike on closed ski areas.

That is all that I do. Places on the NELSAP list, or just not operational that day.

 

[snowmonster]

How many of you guys and gals use Alpine Touring equipment to hike on closed ski areas.

I break out the skins on a windhold. I've considered skinning up the Loaf after hours but worry about running into a snowcat in the dark.

As long as we're on the do-it-yourself route, a book you can also consult (if you get serious about touring) is Backcountry Skiing by Volken, Schell and Wheeler. Lots of great information on gear, technique and avalanche awareness. The Goodman books are good for telling you where the routes are in the northeast. He has a new edition out this month. I haven't seen it but they say he has some new tours in there. I got into AT by trial and error. Read up then practiced skinning and fiddling with gear on a NELSAP golf course near my house and resorts friendly to skinning (Magic). Graduated to the Sherburne trail, Tux and around Mt. Washington. On a solo trip into the Gulf of Slides, I got creeped out being alone and not really knowing what to do in case things slid around. I promised myself not to be "that guy" that people read about in the papers so I promised myself I would get some instruction on being out there.

 

[Anklebiter]

That is all that I do. Places on the NELSAP list, or just not operational that day.

 

[Anklebiter]

I break out the skins on a windhold. I've considered skinning up the Loaf after hours but worry about running into a snowcat in the dark.

As long as we're on the do-it-yourself route, a book you can also consult (if you get serious about touring) is Backcountry Skiing by Volken, Schell and Wheeler. Lots of great information on gear, technique and avalanche awareness. The Goodman books are good for telling you where the routes are in the northeast. He has a new edition out this month. I haven't seen it but they say he has some new tours in there. I got into AT by trial and error. Read up then practiced skinning and fiddling with gear on a NELSAP golf course near my house and resorts friendly to skinning (Magic). Graduated to the Sherburne trail, Tux and around Mt. Washington. On a solo trip into the Gulf of Slides, I got creeped out being alone and not really knowing what to do in case things slid around. I promised myself not to be "that guy" that people read about in the papers so I promised myself I would get some instruction on being out there.

I figured the NELSAP areas get a lot of "Earn Your Turns" skiers. Unfortunately, down here in DE there aren't many places up in the PA mountains to "EYT". I'll probably look to do a long guided weekend once a year up in your guys neck of the woods. At least, until I can convince my wife to move to New England.

 

[atkinson]

Thanks for the clarity rivercoil. Reading is awesome and depending on your learning style, it will certainly help. However, going with more knowledgeable folks or taking a course are an invaluable additions to anyone's education.

As for places to practice at home in DE or close by, be creative. Anything that is open enough to ski down and isn't posted is fair game for running laps. In fact, the shorter the lap the better, for now. You need to practice applying and peeling skins in the cold wind a few times to get it down.

You can stay strong and keep aerobic fitness in other ways, but you should spend a lot of time walking, skinning and skiing in your new boots. Get them dialed before any major missions.

John

 

[redalienx11]

I figured the NELSAP areas get a lot of "Earn Your Turns" skiers. Unfortunately, down here in DE there aren't many places up in the PA mountains to "EYT". I'll probably look to do a long guided weekend once a year up in your guys neck of the woods. At least, until I can convince my wife to move to New England.

last year was an exceptional year in PA (southern PA at least). I had alot of luck skiing in the backcountry with the record snowfalls we were seeing. alot of higher "peaks" in the northeast/midatlantic have cell or radio towers on them, and the access/maintenance road give easy skinnable acces to the top. just be sure that its not private property.

I agree with rivercoils clarification on avy awareness. not necessary as a prerequisite to ski many northeast objectives. Bruce Trempers book is a very accessible primer on avy awareness.

 

[Anklebiter]

Thanks for the clarity rivercoil. Reading is awesome and depending on your learning style, it will certainly help. However, going with more knowledgeable folks or taking a course are an invaluable additions to anyone's education.

As for places to practice at home in DE or close by, be creative. Anything that is open enough to ski down and isn't posted is fair game for running laps. In fact, the shorter the lap the better, for now. You need to practice applying and peeling skins in the cold wind a few times to get it down.

You can stay strong and keep aerobic fitness in other ways, but you should spend a lot of time walking, skinning and skiing in your new boots. Get them dialed before any major missions.

John

The trails that I ride and run on have up to 250ft of vert, with some nice pitch, in well spaced trees. It would be a good place to practice when we get big storm, but that's maybe once or twice a season. I wanted to try it out last season after we had over 3 feet of snow, but I didn't have snowshoes. After trudging through the snow up to my waist for an hour, I gave up and turned around.

I'll wait until after this season on wheather I'll get equipment for next season.