Sunny Main Gully 2/19/2025

Feb 19, 2025

The storm and winds have cleared and it was time to venture up high once again. Meeting in the typically frigid Pinkham Notch parking lot, Caleb and I evaluated snow blowing on the ridge lines and opted for what seemed to be a more sheltered Gulf of Slides as an objective. Our thinking paid off and we were blessed with a bluebird stunner of a morning on the Eastern Slopes.

We opted for the path of least resistance and made our way up Main Gully, looking back and enjoying the scenery in the valley below as we booted up. The gully was a firm, uniform layer of nice chalky snow with some wind texture in spots. This made for a very enjoyable ski and allowed us to arc some sweet turns.

Getting to and from wasn't as straightforward as it has been lately though. There is a green blanket of debris coating the Gulf of Slides Ski Trail and there are many small branches down on the trail. Only two noteworthy blowdowns blocked the path, both of which were easy to navigate. The trail was a mix of wind buffed smooth snow and scoured sastrugi surfaces which made for an interesting ski back to the car. Some nice turns, some not so nice turns...

Its been a great stretch of the season the last few weeks, things are filling in nicely and are setting us up for what is sure to be an excellent spring skiing season. If you are in the area this weekend stop by our favorite spot for a beverage Ledge Brewing for the annual Mount Washington Backcountry Ski Festival. There are events each night and this is always a fun social event, a good opportunity to meet some rad like minded folks! Check out a full event schedule here.

See you all on the hill! - Greg