Guidebooks

This guidebook covers Tuckerman, Huntington, Gulf of Slides, Great Gulf, Oakes Gulf, Ammonoosuc, Burt, Jefferson, Castle and King Ravine, with separate entries for descents and approaches. Pinkham Notch approaches and exits From Pinkham Notch, use the Tuckerman Ravine Trail for uphill travel and the John Sherburne Ski Trail for the descent. Granite Backcountry Alliance specifies no skiing on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail. The Sherburne is a 2.4-mile ski trail with fall-line turns; it is separate from the ravine descents above. For Huntington Ravine, the Huntington Ravine Fire Road branches right from the Tuckerman Ravine Trail 1.7 miles above Pinkham Notch. This is a different route from the Huntington Ravine hiking trail, which has an unbridged river crossing and is not recommended for winter access by the Harvard Cabin operators. The Gulf of Slides Ski Trail starts at Pinkham Notch and runs 2.5 miles. Its upper section crosses avalanche runouts from the slopes above, so exposure begins on the approach. The trail carries uphill and downhill traffic and has sections that slope across the direction of travel. West-side approaches Marshfield Base Station provides access to the Cog’s trackside service trail and the Jewell and Ammonoosuc Ravine trailheads on railway property, where a land-use fee applies. Winter trains and snow-clearing equipment operate on the railway. Keep clear of the rails and machinery; parts of Jacob’s Ladder stand 25 feet above the ground and can be buried by drifting snow. The Ammonoosuc Ravine Trail crosses the outlet of Gem Pool, then climbs steep stone steps and rock ledges, including a ladder at one ledge. Above the scrub, cairns mark the route across rock slabs toward Lakes of the Clouds Hut. Terrain consequences and relevant incidents Raymond Cataract funnels from its upper bowl into a narrow streambed and cascading waterfall. On April 11, 2019, a skier triggered a wind slab that concentrated debris in this terrain trap and buried the skier. Rescuers found the skier alive, but the skier later died of hypothermia. The report identifies the funnel and confined streambed as major contributors to the burial. On March 9, 2024, two people traversing on foot above the Lip slipped on refrozen snow and fell roughly 600 vertical feet into Tuckerman Ravine; one died and the other suffered critical injuries. Rocks, ice and deep holes were exposed. The avalanche danger was rated Low that day: that rating did not describe the consequences of a sliding fall. References Tuckerman Ravine Huntington Ravine Gulf of Slides Great Gulf Oakes Gulf Ammonoosuc Ravine Burt Ravine Jefferson Ravine Castle Ravine King Ravine

The North Fork of the Cascade River holds an abundance of excellent backcountry ski routes through complex terrain. Cascade River Road allows a rare high access point to a highly remote range, where the potential for ski linkups feels endless. Spring ski mountaineering has become very popular off of Cascade River Road for several decades now, and in more recent years higher snow lines and Winter road maintenance has made the area increasingly accessible for the entire ski season. The routes described are not exactly easy roadside turns however, requiring long approaches, complex navigation of varied terrain, tricky weather patterns and variable snow and avalanche conditions. The rewards for these efforts is getting to explore a pristine wilderness in its quietest season, and the freedom and creativity to draw a line across a beautiful mountain environment. This guide describes some popular routes and ideas for adventurous loops to be completed on skis or snowboard; please be aware of the inherent risks and hazards of these activities and the importance of appropriate experience, self-sufficiency and risk tolerance to attempt these potentially life-threatening alpine traverses.

Tahoma / Mount Rainier hosts an incredible density of major ski mountaineering routes, unrivaled in scale in this part of the world. Spring provides the optimal conditions to go for a  descent on skis or snowboard, after the winter snowpack has transitioned and before crevasses start to really open up in the summer. While the majority of traffic can be found on a few popular routes, a variety of options and potential for further exploration is is also available for skiers and riders on this incredible mountain.  Note: Completing any of the described routes is a very serious and potentially life-threatening endeavor. Route conditions vary greatly year to year with glacial recession and seasonal snowpack, and this list can be used as a starting point to discover possible lines you are inspired to explore, but certainly not a blueprint of which snow bridges are safe to ski over. Have fun and stay safe!

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