seeking information on adirondack backcountry skiing

i've been telemarking for 5 years but almost entirely on trail or in the woods. I know that a lot of the shallower angle slides in the adirondacks are frequently skied but was looking for more information. is there an avalanche advisory i would be able to check? i'm not looking to go anywhere with significant avy danger and would only be attempting something like this if the snowpack is such that there is little to no chance of slide. is this even feasible? i've looked in a couple east coast backcountry ski books and couldn't find any info, nor could i find any online. any information at all (aside from the inevitable "get a beacon/shovel/probe. you are going to die") would be greatly appreciated.

Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides in Keene Valley
There's lots of sweet stuff to ski up there, they know where to find it.

Yer gonna die!

Buy the slide guide. adkbcski.com/slide-guide/

divnamite wrote:Buy the slide guide. adkbcski.com/slide-guide/

this is PERFECT!! thank you

Just got my refresher training this weekend for the Johns Brook Valley Winter Host Program. Offical DEC line is: They do not forecast or advise on avalanche conditions. Have the gear, know how to use it, know how to read snow conditions is all the advice the Rangers give. Oh and the slides on Colden that end in Avalanche pass are closed to winter activity and you will get ticketed if you get caught on them. They are marked at the base.

Having said that if you are in the Johns Brook Valley seeking entertainment this winter on a weekend stop in and see the volunteers at the Warming Hut on the JBL Property. They tend to be friendly, usually have hot water, hot cocoa and maybe coffee depending on the time of day.

MikeS wrote:Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides in Keene Valley There's lots of sweet stuff to ski up there, they know where to find it.

Yup. If you don't feel good making avy assessments on your own, go out with Cloudsplitter. They will take you out for an awesome trip, and give you a lot of knowledge along the way.

Slides are somewhat rare in the Adirondacks compares to other popular ski places, but this encourages complacency that can and has killed. And the best skiing is the most dangerous terrain.

If you want to learn more, take an Avy course at the BC Ski festival in March.

divnamite wrote:Buy the slide guide. adkbcski.com/slide-guide

Just a reminder to those that haven't read this book. This _IS NOT_ a backcountry ski guide, it is a collection of aerial pictures of the slides. Simply because something has a name in the book does not mean it is a skiable line.

Also, many of the peaks have new and altered slides since Irene.

Mike V. wrote: Just a reminder to those that haven't read this book. This _IS NOT_ a backcountry ski guide, it is a collection of aerial pictures of the slides. Simply because something has a name in the book does not mean it is a skiable line.

is there any more information other than arial photographs? any information in the slide guide on steepness(either for climbing up, or skiing down?)

if not does anyone have any advice on good winter climbing objectives that can be accomplished with crampons, an axe, and minimal technical protection? i'm not looking for super technical ice requiring 2 tools. jsut something steep enough to be interesting. as far as ski lines i plan on either going out with locals that know the area or with a guide service that can show me the better lines.

There are 46 interesting things to climb in the back country, some more interesting than others. Algonquin, Basin, Haystack, Gothics via Pyramid, Dix via the Beckhorn, Colden via Lake Arnold, Big Slide. Gothics via Orebed gets you up the south face which is an official trail, but gets much more interesting in winter. Orebed was one of the major Irene slides so it would have the same concern as any other wide open slide. All are walk ups, but they all have Alpine like summits and get steep towards the summit to make things interesting. Nothing close to Grade IV. A good pair of MSR Denali Ascents will get you to the top of all of them via the marked trails. Basin often has a winter only route that is still Grade III, but not the summer trail. Algonquin actually has a non-slide ski trail descent, as does Mt. Marcy for less adventurous back country ski options.

The Adirondacks is a wild place and this extends to trip planning. The publication of the slide guide exponentially increased the info available to the visiting skier, from basically zilch to...having an idea where to start looking. You still need to be totally self-sufficient in the Dacks and this extends to doing your own avalanche analysis both in trip planning and in the field. (This means, among other things, estimating slope angles yourself with a good map.) Otherwise, hire a guide or go somewhere else.

For easy alpine climbs, these can be found online as well as in most of the guidebooks. The two most famous are probably those on Colden and Gothics. Many of the official trails, too, become relatively 'interesting' in winter.

T.L. Kushner wrote: is there any more information other than arial photographs? any information in the slide guide on steepness(either for climbing up, or skiing down?) if not does anyone have any advice on good winter climbing objectives that can be accomplished with crampons, an axe, and minimal technical protection? i'm not looking for super technical ice requiring 2 tools. jsut something steep enough to be interesting. as far as ski lines i plan on either going out with locals that know the area or with a guide service that can show me the better lines.

I wish I could help, but I've been trying to get into the ADK BC ski game for years (now delayed due to working on my winter 46). The more I learn about the area, the less I feel comfortable going out onto the slides without some form of avalanche training (ignorance was bliss back in the day). There are some local forums (adkhighpeaks.org and viewsfromthetop.com are two I use for hiking) which can possibly help you with bc skiing, but those in the know tend to keep the best areas a secret (just like fishing spots...).

Mike & T.L.,
Taking an AIARE Level 1 course will be time VERY well spent, and is only one weekend - compare that to the many weekends you hope to be out skiing.

If you go to North Conway, both EMS and Chauvin run tons of courses. I think there may be a few in the Adirondacks from time to time - EMS Lake Placid is doing one in Feb and I think Chuck Boyd may do one for the BC Skifest - but if you go to NH you could even do it in mid-December with Chauvin - and let's face it, what skiing will you be missing out on on Dec 17? Another advantage of going to NH is you can start yourself off in the comparatively less wild Tuckerman Ravine, with rangers, avalanche forecasts, readily available info on slope angles, and more other people around (a plus and a minus but anyway).

The knowledge you gain will be by far the most useful thing you bring, before you start worrying about avalanche beacons and all that. It will also be a substantial help in choosing potential itineraries.

I have never done any backcountry slide skiing but have an interest. I have been told by some experienced skiers that the Bennies Brook Slide on Lower Wolfjaw Mt. is a good first slide to ski. I've hiked it in the summer (in the rain) and it is low-angle as far as Adirondack slides go.

summitpost.org/bennies-broo…

Adirondack slide skiing is hit or miss. If you even find the slide its a good day. If there's even snow on the slide its a very good day. If there's 1-2 feet of unconsolidated powder its a great day.

If you want a completely safe and controlled environment you can stick to the ski area. It seems like a lot of east coasters have this irrational fear of avalanches. If you want to get into it, take an avy course, dig lots of pits, read books. You will be better off than a lot of the jokers out there.

If you don't want to worry about slab avalanches you can wait and ski the slides in the spring when the snowpack has transformed to corn. But you may miss out on some nice powder days.

Avalanche bulletin doesn't exist like on Mt. Washington. And, don't let that be a substitude for knowledge and good judgement.

i guess another question to add to this equation is what about slides to climb? i've done some stuff in tuckerman's ravine and didn't have an axe, though i would have liked one. what are some slides that are steep enough to offer more excitement than just the typical trail-slogs up to a peak, yet aren't steep enough to require protection more than the occasional picket or piece of rock pro. not looking for technical ice routes. jsut things i might be able to do with an ax for self arrest.

dreadfully sorry for all the bothersome questions but i have absolutely no one with an interest in winter adventures and i'm making the transition very very slowly(note: don't take that as me climbing alone. i most certainly will not.)

wankel7 wrote:Yer gonna die!

Nick Weinberg wrote: It seems like a lot of east coasters have this irrational fear of avalanches. .

I'd say avalanches are a rather rational thing to be afraid of...