AMC NH Skiers starting 2026 on the right [ski]! This determined crew skied up before dawn and made it to the top for the year’s first sunrise. Smiles all around!

A Tour Not Soon Forgotten:  A Glade in New Hampshire

The skin was quite pleasant with good temperatures, no precipitation, and good company. The age group spanned from 6 to 69, and the uphill trip, marketed for those seeking a moderate pace, proved to be full of conversation, stories, and snowball antics. The only real catch of the morning was a set of forgotten skins, which really just turned out to be an excellent STEM challenge for those who were up to the task. It turns out that those rubber ski straps that are in everyone’s emergency equipment can definitely be used to turn your skis into a sort of ski shoe. (See photo.)

While we warned participants new and experienced that the conditions may be less than desirable the trip filled up anyway, so we went for it. Upon arrival at the top, the glades had just enough coverage to be manageable, however the snow had clearly been wind blown, melted, refrozen and then snowed on top of…all that said it was mostly consolidated snow that was rather hard at the top, which then turned into 2 inches of new snow over the top of a breakable crust. 

Ultimately, we all made it down safely however, there was a lot more falling than is typically involved in most backcountry days. Much time was spent picking ourselves up out of the snow and laughing out loud at others misfortune— until you too found yourself stuck with a ski in the air, a pole buried underneath you, and your backpack firmly planted in the hole you just created. 

I would definitely ski with any of the good spirited folks who joined us again, hopefully under better conditions.

– Sarah Sallade

Photos by Sean Mulligan except as noted

Seven participants joined Ted Stever and Tim Lineham at Bretton Woods.  

The day started off with high winds and low temps, but we met in the lodge where Ted and Tim discussed pack contents, safety, and clothing considerations.  Then, everyone practiced with their bindings and climbing skins.  

By the time we headed outside, the winds had subsided and the temperature was the just-right amount of cold for climbing without sweating much.  Bretton Woods has a reasonably priced one-day uphill pass, but most participants purchased a $40 senior lift pass to diversify their options for the day.

The group started climbing the in-bounds uphill route on Range View to get accustomed to technique, then transferred into the woods on climber’s right for the marked off-piste uphill route.  There, participants got a better taste of climbing through and over trees, drainages, and on widely varying grades.  

We transitioned after about 1100 vertical feet of climbing, took a group photo, then skied down the un-groomed Granny’s Grit trail.  For a resort activity, this tour simulated backcountry conditions quite well.

The group had lunch, then went out for lift-served runs. Ted insisted that all keep their packs on in order to give more experience skiing with them.  The group found a number of gladed areas to practice more skiing off-piste.

-Lynn Fisher

Starting off with instruction in the lodge

New to AT bindings:  Getting better at those pins!

Ted Stever, Leader of Leaders