Hillmans Highway

Hillmans Highway is a classic backcountry ski line on the south side of the Tuckerman Ravine zone on Mt Washington, sitting just outside the main bowl but sharing the same snowpack and hazard patterns. It forms a long diagonal couloir with two steeper forks up high that merge into a more moderate, sustained gully lower down, with options to traverse into the Lower Snowfields partway down for wider turns.

From the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, follow the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Hermit Lake (HoJo’s). From the buildings, cut south: cross the Cutler River, then work up to the top of the Sherburne Ski Trail and on to the obvious apron at the base of Hillmans. Boot straight up the established bootpack in the main gully to your chosen fork or to the Boot Spur ridge, then transition and drop back into the line, exiting directly onto the Sherburne Ski Trail for the run back toward Pinkham.

Expect true alpine terrain: overhead rock and ice, a confined gully that can run wall‑to‑wall, and frequent wind loading. Hillmans has produced skier‑triggered avalanches, including recent incidents with full burials and serious injuries, so full avalanche kit, partner rescue skills, and a conservative mindset are mandatory. Wet loose slides are common in spring, and other skiers above you are a real objective hazard.

Check the daily avalanche forecast and any specific Hillmans observations from the Mount Washington Avalanche Center before committing; closures or “no‑go” guidance do happen when the snowpack is touchy. Treat Hillmans as serious, consequential terrain, not a side hit off the Tucks bootpack. Current advisories and incident reports: mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org.