Pat's Peak, AT Skiing on 01-31-16

[granite]

Due to family obligations on Friday and Saturday I was unable to make it to a big mountain for day three. On Sunday a 35 minute, 39 mile drive took me to Pat’s Peak where the skies were a mix of sun and clouds and the temperature almost 40 degrees. I put the climbing skins on, switched my bindings and boots to walking mode and began the uphill AT trek at 9:05 am. The designated uphill route to the summit are the green trails Blast and Zephyr. This is the longest top to bottom trail at the ski area, a distance of 1 ½ miles and about 780 feet of vertical. In exactly one hour I reached the summit and took in the view of Southern New Hampshire. I sat around the top for about 20 minutes and then took the same two trails back to the base. My skis sunk into the soft snow at least a couple of inches making it very easy and a lot fun to descend. For après ski I made my way inside the old, rustic A-frame lodge to the upper level and the Sled Pub where I had a 20 ounce PBR for $5.75. I like the old lodge, it has a nice old time ski vibe to it and the Pub is up high where the A-frame comes together. It has a real nice deck facing the slopes too. Most ski areas that allow uphill travel charge $5 or $10 for the privilege. At Pat’s Peak it’s free. You don’t even have to check in and get a pass-just show up at one of two routes they have and skin up the mountain. I am hoping to do some of the classic AT treks this winter in NH; Cardigan, Moosilauke, Tuckerbrook, Mount Washington, but the lack of snow and the lack of time is making it difficult. After paying $105 for a lift ticket at Stratton last weekend, it was nice to ski for free this time, even though I only had time to skin to the top and take one run down.