Spring Skiing in Full Swing for the Mount Washington Valley

The sun is bright and high in the blue New Hampshire sky. My gang for the day includes two young teenagers that are bound to put my stamina to a test. As we unload from the high speed quad to begin our first run, Mt Washington shines brightly in the background. We push off and start what is to be a classic day of spring skiing in the Mount Washington Valley.

This is lift serviced spring skiing at its best, but by late spring all but the most diehard skiers have put their skies and boards away, turning their attention to gardens, kayaks, fishing rods and golf clubs. But April and May are when the action really gets going at Mount Washington’s Tuckerman Ravine.

Tucks draws not only the adventure seekers who tackle the steepest, most legendary slope in New England, but also hundreds of spectators who come for the spectacle, the sunshine, the picnic atmosphere, the camaraderie, and for the excitement of waiting to see a monumental crash as gravity meets out-of-control skier.

To join the crowd, you start at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, then start hiking. This is manual labor, no lift service, except your backpack and the agility to climb while balancing skis or snowboards. It’s about a four-mile trek in, and you’re sure to have company. As much fun as Tuckerman’s Ravine can be, it comes with real risk. This is avalanche country; it’s also where huge boulders of ice can break loose and cascade down upon unsuspecting revelers. Everyone has stories. Just ask me.

David Emmet

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 26th, 2009 at 2:19 pm and is filed under Outdoor Activities, Skiing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.