Mount 华盛顿 Ski and Climb Trip 2021

The second week of January we took a skiing and climbing trip to the White Mountains. Conditions for skiing were looking as though they could be better but we were excited about the prospect of exploring some new terrain. 

我们星期一把货车装好了, January 11th and headed to the Whites with plans to ski the Sherburne Trail on the East side of Mount 华盛顿, 或Agiocochook, 正如它以前的名字一样. We had skied this trail about a month prior and though coverage was far from ideal, it was a modest improvement from the last time we were there. As we descended we dodged rocks and basked in the beauty and scope of the largest mountain in the northeast. 没有核心射击!

The next day, our plan was to build off of the ice climbing skills we had learned a month prior. We suited up with rental gear from the Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing School and met AMGA 高山 Guide Keith Moon at the Champney Falls trailhead bright and early. Cold temperatures the week before had led to perfect ice conditions and Champney offered a great array of steep options- a level up from the more moderate ice we had climbed at Frankenstein Cliffs in December. It was an enjoyable first step down the long road of learning and “Type-2 Fun” that is ice climbing, of which there will hopefully be many more. 

Getting a taste of winter skiing in the presidential range on Monday had left us excited for more.  On Wednesday, we were climbing the Tuckerman Ravine trail once again. The plan for today was to go beyond the Sherburne Trail and into Tuckerman Ravine, the site where thousands gather on sunny spring weekends to ski corn and cheer on skiers launching themselves off the Headwall. Winter skiing in the ravine however is a much more serious undertaking. 在臭名昭著的恶劣天气, skiers need to manage avalanche hazard, 冰冷的条件, 通常能见度很低. 幸运的是, due to the long spell of minimal snow, conditions present meant that the latter two would be our primary concerns. 

We had divided into two small groups for the day in order to create an easier learning environment. Patrick and I each took four athletes and both groups made it into the ravine at a steady pace, 在坚实的时间里. 在评估条件时, both groups decided that the best option for the day would be to climb and ski “Chicken Rock Gully”- a line that is most prominent in the early season, before the ravine is filled with snow wall-to-wall. The two groups separately reviewed crampon and ice axe techniques at the bottom before beginning the ascent. At the top we transitioned and discussed strategies for skiing steep terrain in challenging snow conditions, 他们确实是. Some skiers used an ice axe to descend, 绑在滑雪杖上, and we talked about conservative ski techniques in tricky conditions. Side stepping and side slipping are important skills in the mountains and after a few necessary steps and shimmies, we were rewarded with enjoyable turns below- A full-value experience! While the snow wasn’t great, it was an exciting look into the world of ski mountaineering.   

我们在山上度过了愉快的两天. 华盛顿, we felt lucky to have made it out with minimal base damage to our skis due to the low snow. We decided we would use the next day to practice more ski mountaineering skills at Willey Slide in Crawford Notch. Willey Slide is a wide open slope with plenty of ice and steep snow to mess around on and serves as an amazing classroom. We decided to approach the slide from the top of Crawford notch on the railroad tracks where the scenic railway runs in the summer months. This is a longer approach but provides amazing views through the glacial notch and across to the inspiring ski terrain on Mt. 韦伯斯特. 一到威利家, 我们再次分成小组, and expanded on the crampon techniques we discussed a day earlier. We also practiced self arresting from long sliding falls, 戴着滑雪板下绳索, and belayed skiing using a variety of anchors. We went back that evening and after study hall, rounded out the night with pizza and a movie. 

Friday was our last day and the forecast looked sunny and warm. We decided to take the opportunity to support a local and independently owned ski area called Black Mountain. Black is the picturesque image your mind conjures up when you think about the way skiing used to be. 基地没有村庄, 或者6人高速缆车, or liftlines- just a lodge built decades ago and skiers going skiing. There were two trails open served by a poma lift, which some of our athletes had never even seen before. 我们整个上午都在到处跑, 在草地上骑马, and hitting jumps on the side of the trail with the place completely to ourselves. It was a fun and relaxing way to end an action packed week. 

On the van ride home most slept, resting with anticipation of further adventures ahead!


Written by Owen McAndrew, 边远地区 Coach