Backcountry skiers need creativity and patience to make the most of a low-snow season

It has been a slow winter for the backcountry landscape in Massachusetts. (Aron Goldman)

A dizzying snow reflected inches in front of my face as my touring partner and I ascended toward the top of our line. Finally, the snow was starting to fly in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, after a sluggish start to the season.

But in an attempt to beat the inevitable switch to rain, we had decided to skin up in the middle of the night. And despite it being nearly mid-January, a lack of natural snow had limited our options to skiing manmade snow at Wildcat Mountain, where we hoped the snow would continue for a bit longer due to its higher elevation.

As ski touring technology advances and skiers’ interest in exploring outside of ski resorts heightens, our winters continue to get shorter and warmer. In fact, according to recent reports released by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the past eight years were the hottest on record.

That leaves backcountry skiers and riders waiting longer for their season to start and ending much earlier than in the past.

“There used to be years where we’d be nordic skiing in October,” said Mark Synnott, professional guide and owner of Synott Mountain Guides. 

Synnott has been skiing in the Mount Washington Valley for 50 years. 

“Now it’s just not happening,” he said. “If you want to ski Washington, it really doesn’t happen until well into January. And I can almost guarantee it’ll blow out early because we’re just not getting the base we used to.”

Thankfully, there are still ways to cruise through increasingly frequent low-snow years in New England. In addition to obsessively watching the weather and overwaxing your skis and snowboards, here is the best way to get your ski season going while waiting for the snow to fly.

Tour on manmade snow at resorts

No one likes to be in the mountains with a group of friends, bringing up the rear while struggling to keep up. And with most ski resorts typically opening well before the backcountry fills in due to advanced snowmaking systems, there is no excuse for being that person.

While waiting for the backcountry to fill in, skinning uphill routes at ski resorts is a great way to build fitness so you’re ready to go when off-piste zones become skiable. It’s also helpful for perfecting your systems and increasing efficiency when it comes to transition times. On in-bounds tours, practice removing your skins and transitioning your gear from uphill to downhill (putting on goggles and helmet, additional layers, stashing skins in your backpack, etc.). Knowing exactly where in your pack to put your skins, and how to transition your gear from uphill to downhill can be extremely helpful when in the backcountry — especially on bigger tours where efficiency is critical. If you plan on taking a second lap, storing your skins in your jacket, close to your core, will keep them warm, dry and sticky, ready for the next line.

Of course, every ski area has its own uphill policy, and the right to revoke access for uphill use when people fail to follow the rules. Before heading out, familiarize yourself with the specific resort’s policies and preferred uphill routes. Some resorts allow uphill use only during operating hours, while others only allow it while the resort is closed. With the on-mountain activity that typically goes on (for example, snowmaking and grooming), it’s important to follow policies for your own safety and to ensure uphill privileges continue.

Watch the weather

Understandably, many skiers who enjoy heading into the backcountry don’t actually live in the mountains, so they might not be as in tune with conditions as those who do live in ski towns.

It’s not uncommon for the famed question to arise on social media platforms after multiple weeks of 40-degree weather: “Is the Sherb in?” While the popular John Sherburne Ski Trail, which descends the eastern flank of Mount Washington from Tuckerman Ravine, does sit at a much higher elevation than the Mount Washington Valley, it still doesn’t fare well when temperatures in the valley are well above freezing.

Utilizing online resources to determine backcountry conditions can be helpful for getting detailed and recent reports, but regularly keeping your eyes on the weather in the areas you’d like to tour will give you a pretty good idea of what the conditions are — or even if there is any snow on the ground — before relying on others for basic information.

Keeping a close eye on the weather forecast also will help when trip planning, allowing backcountry skiers to make educated decisions based on the snowpack when traveling in avalanche terrain, and condition-focused decisions on where to tour in the first place.

Take it easy

When the snow does finally fly and the base begins to build in the backcountry, it’s important to remember that there are still hazards lurking just beneath the snow.

After a long December (and sometimes January), it’s easy to get overly excited when backcountry zones finally become skiable, charging down the run you’ve been waiting for since last spring. But it takes time, and multiple storms, for the base to build enough to adequately cover downed trees, stumps and rocks.

During your first few tours, make sure to dial it back a bit, using caution with each turn, recognizing that there could be a hazard hidden inches below the fresh snow. As the snowpack builds and you become more familiar with the terrain, you can get a little looser with your skiing. Nobody wants to end their season as soon as it begins.