Your Thanksgiving Weekend Mt. Washington Ski Report
Skinned up the Sherburne on Friday. There was only one skin track ahead of me. That guy and three others who had spent the night were the only ones to ski down ahead of me. With 23" of snow in the previous three days, 10" of it the night before, it was beautiful. When I got to Hermit lake it was a balmy 6 degrees and socked in. I decided to ski down because I wanted to get Sherbie before more people got on it. It was good call.
The four guys ahead of me skied pretty much just in the skin track, leaving a lot of untracked behind. Nice mid shin deep powder almost the entire way down. Giggle skiing this early on the ice coast. The water bars are still pretty pronounced as you get lower on the trail so you need to be careful. Sorry, no pics since I forgot the camera.
I went back to the rock today with the intent of trying the Gulf of Slides Trail. My goal was just to be able to get some pics of the Gulf itself since I am fairly un-familiar with the area. Not nearly as nice as Sherburne.
Lower section is skinnable but not really skiable.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_48422.jpg
It got better higher, but still a lot of obstacles.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_48419.jpg
The snow was beautiful, just thin unfortunately.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_48420.jpg
I reached the spot (I think, not really sure since I have never done it) where the trail that goes over to Hillmans veers off to the right. The two guys who were skinning up ahead of me went up that way, so I continued up setting the skin track.
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_48421.jpg
I made it to the base of the Gulf and once again the weather had rolled in and I really couldn't get any pics of the Gulf. Worlds worst weather.
I took the skins off and started skiing down, much to the disappointment of my Monsters. I was able to ski about half way down, but it was really survival skiing and a lot of shots to the edges and bases. I finally throw in the towel and packed the skis and walked out the rest of the way.
Even though I didn't get any real good skiing or pictures, it is so awesome to get out there. I think that the Gulf of Slides Trail is probably a better ski than the Sherburne once it gets some cover. It needs a few more storms that's for sure.
Mount Washington, starting the season off well, IMO.
On the way back through North Conway, I stopped to buy some new ski socks. No socks that I liked so, I took a look at the sticks and look what I found...
http://www.biglines.com/photos/norma...ines_48423.jpg
165 Explosives, brand new, out of a shop in Denver. $250! Merry Christmas Mrs. H-man!
