Have you ever been skiing and wondered, what would this be like without chairlifts? Have you ever looked at a ski hill and thought, what if I could ski UP hill? Have you ever reached the top of a hike and wished you didn't have to walk back down?

We will be doing a day of uphill touring and downhill skiing in the backcountry or at a resort for people who want to familiarize themselves with backcountry gear and uphill skiing in a fun environment -- weather notwithstanding! #prayforsnow.

We hope to be able to ski the John Shurburne Ski Trail (a.k.a the Sherb), a backcountry trail on Mount Washington with about 2400ft vertical over 2 miles. Depending on conditions, this trip location may change to a King Pine, local downhill ski resort in Madison, NH where we will be able to do multiple laps!
Please only sign up for this trip if you are comfortable with strenuous exercise and know how to ski on blacks.

Prerequisites

No backcountry skiing experience required but you must be a confident resort skier on blue and black terrain. Ideally you have tried (and enjoy) skiing ungroomed terrain at resorts.

If this is your first time backcountry skiing, please make sure this trip is right for you. Snow coverage will be low and you will almost certainly encounter bumps, icy sections, and exposed rocks. You may also have to step across small streams.

• You should feel comfortable making tight turns and navigating bumps and ice on tired legs. You should feel comfortable starting your day on a black diamond. There are no warmups in the backcountry.
• We will be skinning uphill, which feels like a medium-to-strenuous hike with extra weight on your feet.
• You should feel confident in making slow, controlled turns to avoid hazards such as exposed rocks or water on the trail.
• You must be able to attend the pre-trip meeting after Thursday’s Lecture.
• Please be aware that there is a high likelihood that we need to change the location of this trip due to current snow conditions. Please do not sign up for this trip if you are not stoked to spend the day at a resort.

Route

Given the current weather forecast, there is a very good chance we will be headed to King Pine, a local downhill ski resort in Madison, NH, where we can do multiple laps of skinning and skiing and learn how to efficiently transition between the two. King Pine

If the “Sherb is in” #prayforsnow, we’ll start with our morning at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor Center gear room. We’ll ascend via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and Descend via the John Sherburn Ski Trail (aka the Sherb).

Gear

MITOC has a great rental fleet of Splitboards and AT (alpine touring) boots and skis. We’ll use skis with pin bindings and frame bindings and teach you how to adjust them to your boot size. We’ll also teach best practices for applying, removing, and storing skins.

Trip Cost

There is a flat fee of $20 for all Winter School Ski Trips. If the Sherb is not in, there will also be an additional $10 fee to buy an uphill ticket at King Pine. If you are not driving, be prepared to reimburse your driver for gas, wear, and tear.