Thread: TR: 1-Part Pow, 1-Part Corn, Mt Washington, NH

PART 1
Nearly a year since my last trip to Mount Washington, a trip that ended in an 800 foot rag doll tumble down "chute", an ice axe to the face, and 13 stitches at the local ER, it was time for redemption.

On Friday, March 19th, the skies were bluebird clear and sunny, temps forecasted in the mid to high 40's at the summit, much warmer down below, and the avy danger had just dropped to LOW.

At 8:30am, just moments after launching the world's largest frost heave in my suby, I reach the parking lot where Thin Cover and MtnBiker/Boarder have spent the night, at least part of it. TC's truck is the lone vehicle in the lot, and I notice a heavy frost layer inside their windshield as well a spare tire on the front passenger side. "Rough night", mutters a groggy Biker/Boarder.

Coming all the way from Pennsylvania on the bus, I expect nothing less.

As we get our gear in order, a bunch other cars begin rolling in, quickly filling th lot. They all have big dogs named after places in Alaska, so no leashes are required.


It's Biker/Boarder's first winter trip to Mount Wash, and as a recent convert to skiing, he is stoked to get going on his first ski tour at the Rockpile.


But, we're in no hurry, the snow is as hard as concrete and the sun still low in the sky. After taking the necessary safety precautions, we set out for the summit.

The last we see of Biker/Boarder all day.


Halfway to the summit we stop to take in the views.
Note Para-skier, center of photo.


The skin track is firm, but manageable. And the sun is getting up there.


Sheltered from the summit winds, we wait for MtnBiker/Boarder while we enjoy hot tea and a smoke with some new friends.


TC informs me that Olga from Boston, who is solo touring, is going to join us for our ski. I am skeptical, but go along with it. I can't crack a smile for the summit shot.


The snow at the summit is some sort of a death crust with chicken-heads, so we ski down a ways on a cat track, that's slightly more skiable.


TC and Olga talk out our options.


Upon closer inspection, Olga thinks the gulley we are scouting looks GOOD, so without further discussion... "dropping!"


Turns out Olga from Boston is right-on. Week-old Pow, out of the blue!










TC says it's not only GOOD, it's probably best ever! (Agreed)










Olga getting some of the good snow.






With every turn, the snow gets better...


Snow sirens lure us further and further into the gully, til we reach a frozen lake


TC thinks we got some good ones.


Looking back up. This climb is going to suck.


This climb sucks


Time to boot it... our Gully of Dreams is losing sunlight.


Olga (and her dynafits/ski crampons) smoke us on the climb out... so she snaps this one which really puts the climb in perspective. Best of the bunch, IMO.


...TR continues

PART 2
Once back at the top, we traverse over to ski an expansive sweet corn field, ripe for the harvesting.






Olga likes the look of things.


TC happily skis it off into the sunset






Olga follows suit


We ski it out to the flats where we enter some dense trees and skin up. A half hour of bushwacking later, were are back at a nearly empty parking lot. Luckily, MtnBiker/Boarder is there waiting with a beer and a story of his own adventure.

Awesome way to return to Mount Washington. Couldn't have asked for better snow, weather, or ski partners. Hope to get back up there real soon.

Good to meet you Olga, thanks for the pics. Let's get after it again... ordered ski crampons today.

niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice

loving the mt wash stoke around the boards this year... seems to be more and more and that's a great thing... as long as we all stay outta the zoo i think the rewards will be sweet... looks like the west side treated you well... but what happened to MtnBiker/Boarder? shall we let him tell his own side of the TR?

Great work guys!!! Looks amazing.

Nice report and beautiful shots!! Looks like redemption was sweet

nice work!
looks like the most awesome of days...
thanks to some outstanding photos

congrats on getting mt wash off your back!


...and props to olga

Sweet work, that's a fun day with some good terrain. Great shots.

Coverage looks quite nice too. Thanks for sharing.

Best spring day for me on MTW thanks for getting this up. Conditions far exceeded our expectations and we met a great new touring partner. Looking forward to many more dood.

That doesn't suck. Jealous as fuck. Nice job.

Nice work men... that's a dream day on Mt. Washington!

Great skiing and shots.

phenomenal story telling. love this TR

hey, olga here thanks for a great day and companionship, was great to ski with two of you!!! I might've been quick to drop in, but sure would've felt so very lonely 3 mins later by myself inside the Great Gulf
hope we get to ski together soon!
And yea, ski crampons are key, just keep your bindings low so they work well

TC cut your hair for fuggin hippie!

...oh... and keep the grade A stoke coming

I remember the tr from last year's carnage. Looks like you guys had a day of days up there. Nice work.

Looks awesome

sick andy, looks like an amazing day to be on that mountain. when i was home it was like 50 below on washington with 100 mph winds. keep killin it ! be sure to come back out for some high altitude training to make those hikes easier and easier!

Way to kill it!

Curious about biker/boarder's story though...

Nice stoke!

GREAT WORK GENTS.

Originally Posted by FixedGrip

As we get our gear in order, a bunch other cars begin rolling in, quickly filling th lot. They all have big dogs named after places in Alaska, so no leashes are required.

bwahahahaha!




Nice...

Way to get redemption FG. Looks like a great time! Nice pics and good work guys! Stoke.

Hilarious to hear both Biker/boarder and thin covers stories about the drive to Tucks they shall not forget anytime soon.

Oh and Andy, you are the happiest damn skier I've ever skied with...Always a hudge grin. Even when in tree wells.

i like fellas. look forward to harvesting some of that corn with you on my return...looks schweeeet

Originally Posted by _Aaron_

TC cut your hair for fuggin hippie!

...oh... and keep the grade A stoke coming

nah letting it flow like samson for my move to VT full time. Get that wrist healed dude so you can get this spring season with us!

Originally Posted by thin cover

nah letting it flow like samson for my move to VT full time. Get that wrist healed dude so you can get this spring season with us!

You moved to VT? Doc says Mid April should be game time.

Originally Posted by thin cover

nah letting it flow like samson for my move to VT full time.

Buying up the flannel are we? Good to hear you're preparing yourself!

Fixed grip great report here .....I will be chiming in with a personal note tom.....