Backountry sking routes across North East

[Justin]

HEY ALL,
i was wondering if anybody knows of a web page that has a list of some backcountry skking routes here in the north east. i lived up in Bethel Maine for a while and have done a fe trips in Grafton notch but i's like a refernce and some new ideas. any suggestons would be great...maybe even books to purchase!

Thanks
-Justin
Portland ME

[kfarrar]

Go get a copy of John Goodman's book on skiing ME,NH, VT and NY. It lists most of the backcountry trails in the North East.

[RR]

BC skiers abound on this site...stick around, we'll get out there!

[elwood]

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

[M@]

Show me your's and I'll show you mine.

M@

[el-bagr]

Umm... you weren't looking for a serious answer, were you?
:snowman:

[Justin]

Serious...of course. Although ya'll don't seem to receptive to sharing other decensts....different edquitte i guess. I'm from the Grand Teton area where shareing (not to mention traveling together) was common place

[RR]

The local ethic is kind like fly fishing ettiquette: M@ and Elwood were pretty clear on the baseline.

So here's the way we do it hereabouts: We hook up and go together to a place and get arcs. That's it.

The beta for well known places we will put on the air, the private stashes and legendary secrets are not for broadcast, just sharing together. There are some stash masters here so like I said before: stick around and we will get out there.


btw, perhaps you'll join us for a "backcountry barbeque" on our day out on the North Slide of Tripyramid. I'm bringing the grill and some marinating potabellas, elwood was talking steaks, but there will be other items needing transport. The trip falls in a two week window near the end of January and into February, but the date can't be set until the "January thaw"* starts.

*Local weather phenomenon, nasty some years, painless for other years.

[M@]

Justin:

The reason no-bodies gonna post the exact directions to a stash is becuase we have no idea who will read it. I've emailed a stash or two becuase I know the person, and their ability.

If we make public a specific line, and someone get's hurt: We may feel responsible.

That and it's fun to keep secrets.

M@

[kfarrar]

People here are definately willing to share stashes. As M@ said most people like to show versus just tell. However, If you know a general direction of where you want to go, post and some may point you in the direction of some stashes in private messages.

Also, I recommemd Goodman's book because he describes many trails. If you start with some of these I am sure you will soon find stashes of your own. Locals mostly keep up the many forgotten and infrequently used trails in Goodman's books. Many stashes exist on the sides of these trails that have been cut and pruned by the same groups.

As a group we like to get together, toss back some good beer, have a good time, and mostly ski.

[Justin]

like i said, i lived in Bethel ME for a while. I grew up skiing Grafton Notch , where some of the most friendly locals live ( although i might be bias seeing as i was one at one point) as well as perenial trips to Tucks.

I know Grafton like the back of my hand and all the maine decents down and around Tucks but i'm looking to branch out... i'd like to see some new terrian... steep short, hairy whatever. i'ce herd of some great stories from jay peak and around there from buddies and everytime i drive through fraconia notch...well you know!

so.... surely ya'll haven't taken offense to my posts, i asure i'm not trying to step on anybodies toes.
cheers

-Justin

[kfarrar]

Franconia has some great stashes I have heard, but not experienced myself. To start try the Tuckerbrook Trail. You will find this in Goodman's book. I was just talking with a guy who work's at All Outdoors in Manchester. I didn't get his name but he's a small guy with dark hair. I think his name is Mike, and he Teles

It has been said that Tuckerbrook has many stashes to the sides as well as stashes at Mittersill. Go up, poke around and find some. If I knew where there were I'd show you myself.

[DRPHIDDLEPHOS]

head over to Btown and Elwood and I will take you up to jay!! just so happens we know a little about beaver pond, and some hairy drops out in the aerosoul! :wipeout:

[elwood]

Justin:
so.... surely ya'll haven't taken offense to my posts, i asure i'm not trying to step on anybodies toes.
cheers

-Justin My harsh tone may have suggested that I was offended, but beleive me- I am not. Like RR and M@ have said, we would love to drop some lines with you, and show you our stash spots. There are just way too many lurkers on this board, and we don't want to make our hidden gems public knowledge, that's all. Keep surfing the board, a trip will come up very soon. If you are interested and available, you will definitely be in the loop. Hope this clarifys!

[Justin]

it's really to bad the northeast is getting rain after all that snow

[M@]

Justin: You said it. Damn this weather.

Really hope your not taking offense to this thread - it's pretty tame compared to some past exchanges we've expierenced.

Anyhow: We're thinking of skiing cannon tommorow. I don't know *ANY* of the stashes at cannon except maybe the tramline, which is not all that secret as there's 50 ppl an hour suspended right above it. If not cannon then maybe attitash etc... keep your eyes open for the roll-call posts: they usual detail a trip.

M@

[NHski]

Justin:
it's really to bad the northeast is getting rain after all that snow Although it will probably help stabilize the snowpack in the long run.

[RR]

These rain to snow cycles can sometimes help the above treeline conditions for BC sliders. The loose snow ordinarily just gets wind blasted off the summits, wetter stuff or mix stays put and fills in between the rocks. The problem is we did't get enough of that earlier.

Some years we get six or seven such cycles and the snowfields get very fat by Christmas! This season may go long in the Spring, with slightly warmer averages....maybe a Presi Traverse is in the deal in March.

[RR]

man, that's spooky....NH isn't that about the third time we did that?

[NHski]

you know what they say, great mind think alike

[NH_tele]

M@ and others- I don't know if I'll be able to make it on that particular Tripyramid trip, but I'd definitely like the beta on that, if you would be willing to PM or email me about it... I've been eyeing it for a year now, and I'm sure it's doable. it's not in Goodman's book though, so I don't know as much about it. Are avalanches a problem?

I do know some Cannon stashes though; although this year some are going to be less secret; the skier's right glade is an official trail (there used to be some SICK powder stashes in that glade last year!). Cannon also expanded out a little bit over to Mittersul, which will most likely increase the traffic even more. However, I do know of a few on-mountain stashes, and know my way around Mittersul fairly well.

On thing I would like to ski this year is the chute up near the cliffs; I'm not going to say exactly where it is, but it's supposed to be very nice...

[Justin]

...as for the franconia notch area ( includeing around Cannon) how avalanche prone are these areas ( with rain and warm ups aside)?

should i bring my beacon etc?

[kfarrar]

NH_Tele - I just heard about that run today(if we are thinking the same run). It's sounds absolutley sick. The skier guy I was talking with heard from a friend, who's sister's brother's second cousin said it the steapest narrowest run in the North East.

Can't wait to find this one - I'll definately be looking for it. May have to plan some scouting trips to find.

[RR]

Are y'alls talking about the "Gates of KazzadDum"? Check with Jeremy over at NELSAP?

My "guide" is employed at the Loaf this winter so I'm unlikely to go where the birdwatches go unless someone can rustle up a guide. I'd kick in some customary if the occasion calls for it. I still want to have a go at "The Snows of Carathras", just a stone's throw SSW of GKD.

[M@]

Gates of Kazzadum - kewsest ski trail name I've heard yet.

M@

[RR]

Nabbing a first descent is getting harder, but there are so many great monikers to choose from it's worth the effort! Not that I have any notable first descents.

In fact I haven't even named my newest....hummmm

[Luddite]

Justin,
What I do is check out the Maine and NH DeLorme's Gazetteer and ski the hiking trails in there, or the trees near the hiking trails. None are famous bc routes, but I get some good turns. I get some crap too, but that's part of the adventure. Also check out the, um, well it's a book on Mountain Bike trails in Maine. Has stuff like Streaked Mtn. in Hebron in it, etc. Ya, there will be some snowmobile traffic, but a topo and an adveturous spirit can get you some nice shots. I kinda look at every mountain and power line I see as a potential stash and it keeps me pretty busy.Granted, my standards are pretty low; something like Bald Mtn in Rangely keeps me happy, but it's the simple pleasure of seeing my tracks all alone that makes me happy. So really the gist of it is don't limit yourself to established routes. With proper preparation solo exploration can be really rewarding and you live in a state that has a lot to offer.

[ILOVE2SKI]

I have a whole book on New England Backcountry skiing.

[NH_tele]

kfarrar:
NH_Tele - I just heard about that run today(if we are thinking the same run). It's sounds absolutley sick. The skier guy I was talking with heard from a friend, who's sister's brother's second cousin said it the steapest narrowest run in the North East.

Can't wait to find this one - I'll definately be looking for it. May have to plan some scouting trips to find. I don't know if you've ever met Cannon locals "Danny" or "Erik" (don't know their last names, sorry). Erik especially skis all the time. He usually wears a black coat, and is one of the best skiers on the mountain (in the moguls, woods, and steeps, I don't think I've ever seen him carving). I'm hoping to hook up with them sometime after a snowstorm as a guide for this trail.

From what I hear, you want a good base, and good powder as well. You also want to know the trail or have someone along who knows the trail, as it allegedly has a 10-ish foot cliff somewhere along it that isn't easily discernable from above. Beyond that I don't know too much about it, except where to find it (I'd be happy to show someone, but I'm not going to post the exact location).

Meanwhile, over on Mittersul I know of some nice stashes. There's a glade that goes almost top to bottom, and empties out back at Cannon...It's even got a cliff drop for the brave (although this can be bypassed).
There's also another glade that goes back to the Mittersul base, it looks like it's been cut more over the past summer... Then there are the liftline chutes... and some other nice little chutes/narrow trails here & there. And of course Tuckerbrook (which isn't much of a secret).

One thing I'd like to do sometime, if anyone has any experience with the area is ski off the back side of Cannon and/or Mittersul. I've never been back there, but I'd imagine there's some decent skiing...

Oh- and I've never seen avalanche danger anywhere in NE except in a few places. Mt. Washington and Mt. Katadin definitely need to be treated with extreme respect. The Franconia ridge can also avalanche. I'd imagine that the top of Mansfield could as well, but I've never skied there, so I don't know for sure. Over in the 'Dacks there are supposedly some avalanche slopes as well, but again I've never skied there...

For the most part, however, when skiing in NE, you don't really need to be *too* worried about avalanches, especially in the trees. (although Wildcat had that freak thing that knocked out their power generator thing the other day!)

[RR]

I have a hankering to take a look at Bridalveil Falls, skier's left of Upper Coppermine. There's a hiking trail to the falls that can be picked up right where Copper' meets Tucker'. I'll be bringing a rope and some tools....Any other mad-folks interested?

[RR]

Regarding the above post: I'm refering to the Coppermine watershed, it is reputed to start in a couple of places but the one I'm looking for is a hidden left at the high-point of the Mittersill end of the Taft connecter.

It's supposed to be a real scream-fest!

[notjustanotherboarder]

Hey RR,

I hung a left off the top of M. a couple of years ago. the openings to the area that we accessed are small and you have to look for it sometimes. Its a great area and long. But the only problem is where you end up. You will absolutely need a ride back around the mountain to get back to cannon. Otherwise. "it sure is a looonngg walk back" (Lakca from "Taxi:). We lucked out and ran into a couple there. they gave us a ride back.

[RR]

so true! Thanks.

[el-bagr]

Here's a topozone map (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=44.16028&lon=-71.72417) of the area in question... I haven't been from the M side, but I've skied up to the falls and back. The whole Coppermine watershed has good opportunities!