Other recommendations for NE Backcountry?

[jjj4762]

I'm new to backcountry and my only experience was a trip to Tux last year. But with the recent storm, I want to do a backcountry trip this Saturday. Anyone have any advice on another backcountry destination? (I live in CT and I snowboard).

Thanks!

[Luddite]

David Goodman's "Backcountry Skiing Adventures-Classic Ski and Snowboard Tours in Maine and New Hampshire" is a good place to start. He has one for Vt & NY as well....

[RR]

Moosilauke Carriage Road would be wide enough to get tracks outside of the SlowShoes trench....The summit snowfields are steep enough to slide so stay on the windward side if you are not avvy savvy. It's a good long ride back down with some fun bits up high above where the snow machines are supposed to turn around.

[P-HUG]

David Goodman's "Backcountry Skiing Adventures-Classic Ski and Snowboard Tours in Maine and New Hampshire" is a good place to start. He has one for Vt & NY as well....

well said

[Luddite]

Here's another source of some fun stuff:
http://www.nelsap.org./

I scope out a lot of the closed down areas and often find some good stuff. Actually that's the background of the famous Guido...

[jjj4762]

Thanks for your quick response. Moosilauke looks like a great destination, but it is about 3.5 hours from Hartford. Not completely out of the question, but any ideas that are perhaps a little closer?

Thanks again.

[boardman]

Thanks for your quick response. Moosilauke looks like a great destination, but it is about 3.5 hours from Hartford. Not completely out of the question, but any ideas that are perhaps a little closer?

Thanks again.

Check out what kind of snow the Springfield, MA area got and maybe consider Mt. Adams. Check NtrentN's Backcountry Agenda website for some background info. If Hartford got hammered, you could also check out the Avon Mountain trail leading up to the Heublein Tower. I've never ridden it, but it's a fairly long, sustained descent from the top, if it's got coverage.

[pulverschwein]

Here's another source of some fun stuff:
http://www.nelsap.org./
Thanks and reps (well I tried, anyhow - you must spread some rep . grumble) for that, Luddite.
I thought that Bear Mountain place was the reincarnation of Round Top from my early youth. I still remember skiing that big bowl when I was five - wonder if it's still at the new place.
There's another couple there that I've enjoyed, but many more to explore for the first time.

[cgr]

I'm new to backcountry and my only experience was a trip to Tux last year. But with the recent storm, I want to do a backcountry trip this Saturday. Anyone have any advice on another backcountry destination? (I live in CT and I snowboard).

Thanks!

Snapper trail on Moosileake is fun on a board. I've also tried the other one(Ledge Brook?) but that one is flat on a board near the end. You also have a hike up and down to get to the DOC lodge where these 2 trails start.

Closer to Hartford I'd check out Thunderbolt on Greylock. Pine Hill trail on Wachusett is another option if there is enough coverage.

I wouldn't be too concerned with driving another hour if you're hiking up. If you hike up for 2 - 3 hrs you can still make it down in 15 - 30 minutes.

[jcloizeaux]

NELSAP has proved to be very useful for me both when I was at UNH and even now living in suburban Boston; a bunch of small old trails in the woods around Durham & Dover, and even down here in Framingham, Southborough, and Shrewsbury. Though rock skis are normally needed when not up north, as the cover is usually thin. Has anyone tried skiing from the snowfields, top of Tucks, down Sherbie, then continuing down the Avalanche Brook, in order to add vertical? Is the Avalanche worth it, or not?

[scottie4183]

Closer to Hartford I'd check out Thunderbolt on Greylock.

Ntrent and i scouted that this fall...if it's got coverage it looks pretty sweet. if you head there definatly let me know how it was!

[jjj4762]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find anyone else to join me last weekend and I ended up staying home. My friends seem to feel pretty attached to the whole idea of a chairlift.

Anyhow, I'm headed up my sharehouse at Killington this weekend and may try and recruit another house member. I was thinking Mt Cardigan or Moosilauke. RR recommended Moosilauke so I'm guessing that is the preferred destination?

Will I need snowshoes? I'm hoping (and guessing) it would be tracked at this point? Anything else for a novice like me to keep in mind?

Thanks everyone!

[RR]

...Will I need snowshoes? I'm hoping (and guessing) it would be tracked at this point? Anything else for a novice like me to keep in mind?...It would not be fun to discover slowshoes were needed and you didn't have them...very little grief to lash them to the pack....cheap insurance :cool:

[jjj4762]

My friend is suggesting that we do the backcountry at Stowe rather than Moosilauke. Having done neither, I thought I would ask those who have probably done both. Stowe is more convenient and we are both rookies - any suggestions of which is a better trip? Is there a big difference in the quality of the trip?

Thanks

[Luddite]

They say a 4 wheel drive vehicle just means you can get stuck in more remote places, so don't be misled by the convenience of a lift ride. I haven't skied Moosilauke, but I've spent an unplanned night on Mansfield (stuck in a blizzard 30 years ago or so). I think the fact that you're asking this question suggests that what you really want to look for is some low risk areas to begin getting backcountry experience - well established trails, low_er consequence if sh!t happens (there really is no such thing as low consequence if it's real backcountry) and fair proximity to roads on all sides. Memories of the Underhill side of Mansfield always bring a smile to my face, but we spent a lot of time up there in the warm weather before heading up in the winter. If you're going to do this I would strongly recommend you go with someone who knows their way around up there. It's not somewhere to bushwhack. 25 years ago I took my first wife up there on a winter/early spring hike that turned into a Bataan Death March, which may have contributed to the title of "first wife" :D That actually worked out well for me, but I would encourage you to begin the learning experience on the smaller hills nad work your way up.

[RR]

What he said!
Well, not everything...I'm still married to the only wife I've had, 26 years now.

...but don't listen to me, I can't even find my own trail...

[PWDR8S]

What he said!
Well, not everything...I'm still married to the only wife I've had, 26 years now.

...but don't listen to me, I can't even find my own trail...

What HE said! ;) :p Heh heh heh..... it was fun regardless.

The Carriage Trail on MoUSELAUKE is great but there is a bit o slogging to get to the actual incline plus the return leg. Don't do this until you're used to long haul BC trekking. Do get or use snowshoes and bring them with you always... I'm sure surf88 can attest to that from Monday's adventure. My recommendation would be one of the trails on Cardigan... the access trails are usually well packed by hikers which would leave only short slogs to get to sliding trails. Besides that... it's less of a drive and there's the AMC Lodge to get warm or get help and good parking. They're good with trail beta. Regardless, you will be boot packing/slowshoeing if you're a rider for most of the BC access...

[jjj4762]

Thanks to all for your advice. I think I'm going to take PWDR8S advice and we will be trying Mount Cardigan. I really appreciate all of the input.

[Nature]

I think Stowe would be a great idea. The skiing doesn't change in the backountry you can find it in the woods at a resort. The real challenge for a novice is the navigating. The great thing about Stowe is everything funnels down to the road so if you do happen to get lost you atleast know what direction to head in. The chin clip trail off of the gondola offers great access points to a wealth of backountry terrain that is in unbeleivable shape right now. So get out there. Stop. And just look around to find nobody and open lines ripe for the taking.


Two sticks are better than one

[Bannick]

.....Two sticks are better than one

what type of sticks are we talking about...chop sticks?

[2plankerider]

of course two are better....ever try eating pad thai with one chopstick?

[RR]

of course, one could be used to skewer fools ;)