MTW POW

By: Greg
April 18, 2010 9:29 pm | Category: Quick Update, Skiing | 9 Comments | Permalink

Two weeks ago it was 50 degrees at the summit of Mount Washington. Today it nuked pow-pow (more than it did three weeks ago). It wasn’t really a great day for pictures (I apologize for that… I REALLY do ;)). It was a great day for skiing powder.
(4/19/10 more pictures added! -ben)

Icelanticskier.

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Is it Time for Backcountry Rescue Insurance in New Hampshire?

By: Greg
April 16, 2010 1:52 pm | Category: General Interest, Skiing | 45 Comments | Permalink
Undercast below Mount Washington

Do you know who pays for finding, rescuing and transporting an incapacitated backcountry user in New Hampshire from the backcountry to a hospital? The injured person? The injured person’s insurance? The tax dollars of the people of the state of New Hampshire? The citizens of the United States through the federal government’s funding of the National Guard? The discussion that has ensued (see the comments following the Union Leader’s article) after the recent helicopter rescue of a backcountry skier on Mount Washington suggest that many people do not know the full answer to this question. In this article I will attempt to inform people about how search and rescue (SAR) is funded in New Hampshire. I believe the current system of funding is unfair. It places a cost burden on some backcountry users, while giving others a de facto backcountry rescue insurance policy for free. In particular, I think backcountry skiers and hikers need to pay more money upfront to help cover the costs of their potential rescue. As an alternative to the current backcountry SAR funding system, I propose an insurance system modeled on the Carré/Carté Neige system in the French Alps. Sold by the state of New Hampshire, it could be purchased for various durations of time, and would only cover transport from the backcountry to the hospital. In particular, it would not cover medical expenses.
Continue reading Is it Time for Backcountry Rescue Insurance in New Hampshire?


April is the New November

April 16, 2010 11:46 am | Category: Weather | 1 Comment | Permalink

Despite being totally burned out on winter weather (sorry it happens when you have possibly the greatest winter ever in terms of nor’easters to forecast) I couldn’t let this late season snowfall go.

As we speak, a cool pocket of air is making its presence felt all through the North Country. As warm air from the south interacts with this air mass, and several waves of energy moving in from the west, the precip reamin steady. Heaviest periods will occur over the next 36 hours across the higher terrain of NH. At elevation, this precip should fall in the form of some wet snow. Best location to see snow would be the high Whites. Here, six or more inches of snow is likely by the time sunday morning comes. Not bad for a late season event.


April is the New April

By: Greg
April 14, 2010 10:44 pm | Category: Quick Update, Skiing | 16 Comments | Permalink

Sorry Ben, but I had to do it :P

While the valleys are enjoying a record breaking early start to spring and summer—and all the great activities that these seasons host–the mountains are reluctant to give up on winter. Great snow is still out there for the taking, and some of it is even powder! Here are a few of the simple things we do (Ben included… when he’s not busy showing us up at the crag/singletrack) to find the goods this time of year: Pay attention to where/when/how much it snows, look down wind, evaluate the risk of avalanches, understand the hazards of a mountain in transition from winter to summer, and don’t forget to enjoy.

Continue reading April is the New April


TR: Busted

April 14, 2010 8:04 pm | Category: Full Trip Report, Skiing | Permalink

April Fools day.  The start of some glorious pranks.  This year, it also happened to be the start of a 90 inch storm cycle in the Wasatch.  Being pent up since our last 90-incher in January, we were rip snorting and raring to go.

Tag the heck out of this trip report by clicking the picture.


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