
The ski season is officially upon us in the Northeast. Lifts are spinning and resorts across New England are blowing snow, hoping to achieve maximum trail coverage for the long season ahead.
But not everyone is looking forward to the park and groomer laps often associated with early season.
For some, skiing is about escaping to the solitude of the backcountry, stretching their legs, and earning every turn they make. In the backcountry, even mediocre conditions can feel like some of the best turns of the season. Friends share beers and stories at the top of the skin track, sometimes enjoying views that the masses on the lifts won’t get. On the descent, lines are shared only by those who have the same appreciation for human-powered travel in the mountains.
Unfortunately, backcountry season often starts much later than that of the resorts. No one is making snow in your local glade, and the natural snowpack must be deep enough to cover all obstacles.