Cog to Jacob's Ladder - 11/29/2025

Guest Blog by Sam Therrien, Miles (dark dog), and Denali (light dog)

After picking up my first pair of skis with tech bindings from White Mountain Ski Co. on Friday, I was really excited to graduate from a frame binding. So excited I decided to skin up the Cog today. Unfortunately (and fortunately) for me I did not get to use my new skis.

I arrived at the Marshfield base station at around 8:30 am and about 24 degrees, snowing lightly with some wind, the parking lot was 3/4 full and more people came in after me. 

Getting some info from two people who skied the cog yesterday, I decided to leave my new skis at the car and use my old set up. I was disappointed at the moment but appreciative later. With plenty of coverage from the parking lot to the base of the climb, so I was able to skin from the car.

Looking back down the first little pitch, it was a little rocky, hard packed and icy in some spots. The skin track weaved through the rock and ice pretty well. I was dealing with these type of conditions all way to the Waumbek Station, at 3,800 feet. 

I stopped at the Waumbek Station fire pit for about 5 minutes, but Miles and Denali wanted to get going so I moved on. Looking back at the Waumbek Station, conditions improved to softer hardpack with just enough loose snow to hide some of the sharks but much more enjoyable to ski on the way down then the sections below the Waumbek Station.

As I approached the chute below Jacob's Ladder, I entered into a cloud. It was snowing heavy. The wind had also picked up at this point. Skinning up the chute was tricky. It had some very ice spots where my skins slipped. The dogs were unfazed by the change in weather wondering why I was so slow, so we pushed on.

Arriving at Jacob's Ladder, the wind picked up drastically, the temperature dropped and it was snowing a little harder with about 200-300 ft of visibility. 

After poking my head above the ridgeline, I decided to go back down to Jacob's Ladder and transitioned quickly. The wind was very aggressive and the ridgeline was iced over. I gave the dogs a few well earned treats and water and started my descent. 

From Jacob's Ladder to the Waumbek Station was pretty good skiing (given we are still in November), a few "pow" turns on the skier's right side but mostly hard packed/skied out conditions with some icy spots through the chute.

Just below the Waumbek Station I crossed, rather ungracefully, under the tracks. There was a lot of uphill and downhill traffic on the skier's right side, plus the left side looked a little better snow wise. Regardless, the rocks were unavoidable. I picked my way down, navigating between rocks, railroad planks, and the occasional dog that decided to run in front of me. I was able to ski all the way to the parking lot with relative ease given the conditions.

Bonus picture of some tired dogs with snow beards.