North East Backcountry

[SnowRider]

Dont kno if this was ready a thread but i was curious, how much backcountry do people on AlpineZone do? What is your favorite backcountry trail? Where in New England can you go? And lastly are any of the trails actually challenging? (Besides Tucks)

SnowRider

P.S. If this already a thread let me know

 

[SkiDog]

Dont kno if this was ready a thread but i was curious, how much backcountry do people on AlpineZone do? What is your favorite backcountry trail? Where in New England can you go? And lastly are any of the trails actually challenging? (Besides Tucks)

SnowRider

P.S. If this already a thread let me know

Mansfield...

Also there are a few publications you should check out by David Goodman..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/09...ef=sr_1_1/104-0953679-8611916?ie=UTF8&s=books

Mt Greylock in NY too....never been there though...

OIL should have some beta for you if he's willing to part with it ;-)

M

 

[Greg]

P.S. If this already a thread let me know

http://forums.alpinezone.com/4868-backcountry-thread.html
http://forums.alpinezone.com/4423-easy-backcountry-trails.html

 

[SnowRider]

Thanks Greg!:smile:

SnowRider

 

[from_the_NEK]

Mt Greylock in NY too

Massachusetts

 

[AHM]

A couple things................

1. Greylock is actually in MA. Its worth it, check out the chief. The chief has been skied. I have not skied it, but will be going shortly to check it out. For Greylock ski conditions, check with the shop in Williamstown (Mountain Goat)

2. Mt Cardigan: NH. Very good also. Has some old "down mountain" trails and above/open treeline stuff up top. Good to hike it first in the off season to check it out. There is a cabin (w/stove) that can be reserved which would make for a great camp & ski.

3. You probably need to define backcountry, as a lot of eastern skiers ski off trail and may refer to that as backcountry. There is a great deal of this type of terrain at Stowe, Jay, Sugarbush, MRG, Burke, Cannon, and even at Whiteface (I know surprising really).

4. As far as actual people who own and use touring gear (tele or randonee) on this site, it is hard to say, but my guess is most do not tour a big fraction (greater than 25 %) of their season.

5. Are the runs challenging: depends on what type of skier you are. Certainly, the skiing off of Mansfield can be quite challenging.

6. Me: own touring gear, tour regularly, maybe 35 % of my days are touring days. Tour Canada quite a bit, at least a week a season. Chic chox are on the list

7. Seach the other pages on this forum as there is a thread on backcountry.

 

[dmc]

In decent snow years - My crew and I love to skin(splitboard) and ride the hills of the Catskills... It offers wide open ravines and sweet rockdrops...

 

[riverc0il]

AHM brings several good points, notably that even folks with touring gear generally are hitting the lifts more than they are touring. i was about 50/50 last year but will lean more on lift serviced this year due to a pass. a good portion of my tour days are before/after the lifts open too, which further confuses that stat.

AHM also tosses out the idea of seperating backcountry from lift accessed slack/side country. backcountry is hiking up to ski down from my perspective. some of the best and most demanding terrain in the east is accessable from a lift but off the map. but it isn't true backcountry even though many of the same rules apply.

one interesting aspect of much of new england backcountry is that many of the back country locations have pretty mellow trails. greylock, cardigan, sherburne, and GoS ski trail for example are not difficult trails, but boy are they a treat and make up for any lack of challenge by being very fun and interesting. obviously, the most demanding backcountry can be found on the higher peaks of new england.... presidential range, mansfield, katahdin, etc. but challenging routes are generally limited only to the imagination (and a good dose of deep base to work with).

 

[maplevalleymaster]

Sugarbush actually offers backcountry terrain tours on their website into the Slidebrook Basin.

For more info, go here:
http://www.sugarbush.com/mountaintours.aspx

 

[JD]

I only tour. Northern Greens is a fun place. Lift assisted touring is also fun. I used to do that when I bought a pass.

A good example of lift assisted touring.....Skin the quad at Stowe before it opens. Ski down nosedive to cliff trail. Skin up cliff trail to the top of the gondi before it opens, descend to the lift. Ride up, skin out towards the notch, descend, skin over to the Big Spruce lift, descend over towards Smuggs, skin back to mansfield. IMO, this is touring, but you can poach a lift ride here and there. Even in Europe they use lifts to gain elevation on some tours.

 

[bvibert]

I've been thinking about hitting up Greylock and I'd like to make the trek up to Tux this spring, but that's the extent of my backcountry skiing.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I tour about 20-25% of my days. Sometimes it's more, some season's it's less. I would probably tour more if I could live closer to the mountains again.

The bulk of my touring is on the Presi's, with Cardigan/Firescrew, and others thrown in for fun when snow permits. There is alot in the Presi's besides Tuckerman, but I always and up there at least once a season, usually more.

 

[freeheelwilly]

Stowe has a fair amount. I hear there's some good stuff on Camel's Hump. The Adirondacks are loaded with great BC. Katahdin looks great but the approach is long so logistically it's a handful. The whites have a ton of stuff - not just tucks. And I've done the chic-chocs a couple times - definitely worthy.

 

[JD]

Chic Chocks are in their own catagory for eastern skiing. A solid 1500 vert, treeless.

 

[AHM]

Give me the Chic Chocs beta

FHW: been thinking about the chocs for a trip. How much time. What's the drive like. How early do I need to book hut time etc. What are the pitches like. Is there much exposure etc. Thanks.

 

[freeheelwilly]

FHW: been thinking about the chocs for a trip. How much time. What's the drive like. How early do I need to book hut time etc. What are the pitches like. Is there much exposure etc. Thanks.

It's a 10-12 hour drive from Plattsburgh depending on weather. the drive is pretty easy -again depending on weather. Both times I went we stayed at the Gite du Mont Albert. The deal at that time (especially given the exchange rate) was too good to pass up: 5 nights in a beautiful hotel (only one in the Parc) within five-ten niles of most/all of the major trailheads. Unlimited buffet breakfast every morning with every kind of breakfast fare imaginable. 5 course meal for dinner every night - food was fantastic. All for about $42/day American (I shit you not!). I've always wanted to do the hut thing there but I can't give you much beta on it. There is a web site you should be able to google-up right quick though.

The pitches range from easy to extreme. Avy danger can be high. There are some pretty rowdy lines in there if you want. We skied Mount Albert, Le Hog's Back, Champs de Mars and Mount Blanc. Four feet of freshies fell during the last week I was there. Actually fell in about two and a half days and then it was bluebird for the rest of the trip. Whiteroom; doesn't get any better. As you probably know, their heights are quite modest but because of their lattitude (and probably also the proximity of the open Atlantic) they're mostly above tree line.

I highly recommend.

 

[JD]

It's sick there.

 

[DEVO]

What about Big Jay? Does that count? I have not skied it yet, but am hoping to this coming season.

 

[riverc0il]

big jay counts as lift accessed BC. a lot of people have not treated big jay as backcountry and have paid the price. seems like every season someone gets stuck out in that drainage and spends a night unprepared. study up, have the required supplies for an emergency, go with knowledge, and be smart. a lot of people have the false sense that lift accessed BC is safer than regular BC when in many cases, it can be more dangerous because folks are less prepared.

 

[koreshot]

Here is an idea. (coming from someone who is willing to do some hiking to earn turns but knows virtually nothing about BC travel, gear, safety, etc...)

Since there seems to be a number of people here that are experienced BC skiers, can we organize a small AZ BC adventure this winter? This would be focused on getting people like me, who like to ski, are willing to work a bit for some turns, but are inexperienced in the BC, to learn from the more experienced members of the board. I suggest hike to terrain, off lift served, because it does not require a BC ski setup or a split board. I don't own this gear though I do have a beacon, shovel and probe.

I personally would love a tour of Mt. Mansfield and of Big Jay from someone who knows the terrain well. Would any "guide" like to volunteer to take some newbs into the Green Mountains BC?