A Trinity — The Dregs of a New Hampshire Winter

By:  Greg
June 15, 2010


With Sam gone for bigger things, and the memory of previous troikas still fresh in my memory, Christian and I headed over to New Hampshire for another round of three outdoor activities. We actually didn’t plan to go over and ski in New Hampshire for a few more days. However when we got together to climb in Vermont on what was supposed to be a dry weekend day, we instead found our crag being pelted with rain drops fresh from the tub copter. Rather than doing the sane thing, and going back to bed, we opened the web browser of an iPhone, and got word from the good folks on T4T that the snow was holding strong in lower parts of The Sluice in Tuckerman Ravine, Mount Washington. Without even speaking a word, we both knew we would be making schuss in a few hours.

This was my first trip to Tuckerman this season. My previous trip was on July 4th, 2009 (contrary to the belief of many, I was not on this trip). This was Christian’s first trip in two seasons. This was my 20th trip to the Whites for schuss this year; the first time without skins. I can tell you that I was glad to be carrying mountaineering skis with tech bindings today.
the load

This is exactly what we won’t be finding today.
what we won't find

As we climbed through the mist pouring out of the tub copter (which was supposed to be bluebird sky), we couldn’t help but feel like nature was trying to tell us something: “The season has changed dumb@$$s.” Nevertheless, about an hour later we found ourself scooting past HoJo’s. As we climbed the last few hundred vertical feet to the ravine the snow came into view, and I couldn’t resist taking “the shot.”
the shot

We reached the floor of the ravine, and a few beers later were climbing up next to some severely undermined snow. Christian went first and enjoyed a few haggard turns.
starting the schuss

Christian low on the remnants of The Sluice

Jonathan Shefftz informed us that the sliding surface totaled approximately 330 vertical feet. Not bad for June! I decided to do a run making about 1 turn per 100 vertical feet. (photos: Christian Theberge, production: P. — CLICK HERE for a larger view)
1 turn per 100 vertical feet

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Read about the author:   Greg
Enjoy this TR? Read another: HIKE WEEK! Carried (Away) Up the Trap Dike

Related Stuff:

  1. TR: A Trinity — The Dregs of a New Hampshire Winter
  2. Wishing Everyone a Safe Weekend
  3. Is it Time for Backcountry Rescue Insurance in New Hampshire?
  4. TR: The (Other) Winter Carnival — Part II
  5. TR: Circumnavigation of Mount Washington
  6. The (Other) Winter Carnival Part 2: Ice Bumps

20 Comments

  1. MadPatSki
    wrote on June 15th, 2010 at 10:38 pm  
    1

    How many beers between the end of Tucks to climbing at 2am? Inquiring minds want to know. :P CUz you know, that sounds just crazy.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Greg
      wrote on June 15th, 2010 at 10:45 pm  
      2

      a trinity trifectized at least ;)

  2. Sam
    wrote on June 15th, 2010 at 11:52 pm  
    3

    ughh, you might not make it to July. if you get July, you should start looking at flights to WA at the very end of august so you can get aug and sep. October is now a given on the EC…

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • MadPatSki
      wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 12:47 am  
      4

      I don’t know about Greg, but I’ve taken a serious option into making July turns this year. More than 10 per run anyway. Just need to fit June turns in there before hand.

    • Greg
      wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 8:35 am  
      5

      Oh I’m sure we will get July. Sadly I’m locked in for teaching July/august. Perhaps this is good for my wallet since I’ll need to make a trip this winter :D

    • TEO
      wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 9:25 am  
      6

      Sam,

      Skiing the EC in October has *always* been a given.

  3. Dwyer
    wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 4:47 am  
    7

    Holy sweet lord, that looks like exactly my type of adventure. Way to get after it gentlemen.

    -Begrudging in Bangkok

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Greg
      wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 8:37 am  
      8

      Wish you were here bud. Take lots of pics in bangkok!

    • Porter Haney
      wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 4:30 pm  
      9

      From Bangkok with love.

  4. cathy
    wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 7:37 am  
    10

    High five to you K_C. Really fun shot! Keep at it guys. Would skiing in Mongolia count for July?

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • Greg
      wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 8:39 am  
      11

      Thanks! Skiing in ___________ counts. :)

    • K_C
      wrote on June 17th, 2010 at 11:45 am  
      12

      Christian gets the photo cred for that one, I was at work :)

    • K_C
      wrote on June 17th, 2010 at 11:46 am  
      13

      And skiing in Mongolia definitely counts! It’s so cool it should count for July and August.

  5. StoweNow
    wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 10:25 am  
    14

    On to July! Keep the run going!

    A friend from college has, over the years since we graduated college, lived in Jackson, WY, Portland, WA and now Alaska. After several years of skiing 8-10 months a year, he thought why not ski every month of the year? He’s up to a total of 119 months (yup that’s 10 years) in a row and still managed to fit in work, a happy marriage, a daughter and LAW SCHOOL. Reading that part again I think I have a new hero.

    Should you ever make it to Alaska, I’m sure he’d be happy to show you around.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
    • icelanticskier
      wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 7:28 pm  
      15

      my buddy craig has done it in utah for 12 months a year for 22 years straight now. he relies on pipeline bowl and timp for the tougher months.

      rog

    • MadPatSki
      wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 11:31 pm  
      16

      StoweNow,

      You don’t necessarily need to live out West for ski streak, you just need one plane ticket a year to bridge the season in August and September.

      MadPatSki
      Monthly skier and since October 2005 while living in Ottawa ;)

    • Greg
      wrote on June 17th, 2010 at 7:45 am  
      17

      I was wondering if/when you were going to chime in Pat… and if I was going to have to chime in for you.

  6. powhounddd
    wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 1:46 pm  
    18

    kick@$$. Keep up the good shred.

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  7. natron
    wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 2:44 pm  
    19

    nice greg! most of us go up there and milk the last turns and you do 1 per 100vert, I love it!!

    Respond to this comment/comment thread
  8. christian
    wrote on June 16th, 2010 at 7:18 pm  
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