Winter Backcountry Trip

Hi guys,

Just surfing the web and came across this site, I'm gearing up for an excursion into some nice virgin powder runs for some backcountry snowboarding. I don't currently own a snowmobile but strongly considering buying one in the near future if I could actually get some use out of it here on the east coast. Problem is I live in Maryland and any good snow on the east coast is up in VT or NH. Upstate NY isn't too bad either, I've down backcountry snowboarding in Japan and loved it now I'd like to see some stateside mountains.

Any of you thought about some winter snowshoeing, 'earn your turns' style to bomb some epic white fluffy stuff? Or maybe point me in the right direction at least.

Thanks!
Brian

D. Brian wrote:Hi guys, Just surfing the web and came across this site, I'm gearing up for an excursion into some nice virgin powder runs for some backcountry snowboarding. I don't currently own a snowmobile but strongly considering buying one in the near future if I could actually get some use out of it here on the east coast. Problem is I live in Maryland and any good snow on the east coast is up in VT or NH. Upstate NY isn't too bad either, I've down backcountry snowboarding in Japan and loved it now I'd like to see some stateside mountains. Any of you thought about some winter snowshoeing, 'earn your turns' style to bomb some epic white fluffy stuff? Or maybe point me in the right direction at least. Thanks! Brian

Well it doesn't sounds like you're on the east coast right now because it's done nothing but rain for weeks now and there is no, literally nooooooo powder. There many great opportunities in northern VT and in the whites for skinning and skiing but sledding wise I've never heard of any good areas.

Timefortuckermans.com

The Chic Choc Mountains in Quebec look sweet.
youtube.com/watch?v=u5LgPJ3…

Seems to me that if you're using a snowmobile, you're not truly earning those turns.

hard to beat the tetons...

Mike Parker wrote:Timefortuckermans.com

Whoa that looks like a 40-50 foot drop in the center, definitely worth checking out! Thanks

Morgan Patterson wrote: Well it doesn't sounds like you're on the east coast right now because it's done nothing but rain for weeks now and there is no, literally nooooooo powder. There many great opportunities in northern VT and in the whites for skinning and skiing but sledding wise I've never heard of any good areas.

Depends what part of the east coast your referring to, I've only been keeping track of the Maryland portion but I was in PA Lake Eerie area three days ago and they still had snow on the ground plus lake effect snow in the mountains.

Maryland has literally one snow resort and it's decent for a family vacation but I haven't done any stateside backcountry here so I don't own or need a snowmobile just yet. Just researching, obviously I'm not going to hike up a green hill expecting to see snow on the north side and since I don't currently own a snowmobile yes I am earning my turns if I were to do it now lol

But thanks for the replies regardless :)

Taylor-B. wrote:The Chic Choc Mountains in Quebec look sweet. youtube.com/watch?v=u5LgPJ3…

That does look amazing!

Lake effect snow is very localized, and of the places you mentioned only the western adirondack benefit from it. Vermont, the rest of the ADKs (including the high peaks), and New Hampshire all depend on winter storms for their snow base. There haven't been any recently, and temps have been well above freezing several times in the past weeks. We'll need a good storm or two before there will be any quality backcountry skiing.