Issues → March/April 2009 → Interact → Web Exclusives →
VIDEO: Spring Skiing at Tuckerman
by Mel Allen
By late spring all but the most diehard skiers have put their skies and boards away, turning their attention to gardens, kayaks, fishing rods. But April and May are when the action really gets going at Mount Washington's Tuckerman Ravine.
Tucks draws not only the adventure seekers who tackle the steepest, most legendary slope in New England, but also hundreds of spectators who come for the spectacle, the sunshine, the picnic atmosphere, the camaraderie -- and, let's face it -- for the excitement of waiting to see a monumental crash as gravity meets out-of-control skier.
To join the crowd, you start at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, then start hiking. This is manual labor, no lift service, except your backpack and the agility to climb while balancing skis or snowboards. It's about a four-mile trek in, and you're sure to have company. As much fun as Tuckerman Ravine can be, it comes with real risk. This is avalanche country; it's also where huge boulders of ice can break loose and cascade down upon unsuspecting revelers. Everyone has stories.
You can maximize the fun and minimize the risk by going to www.tuckerman.org to check for the latest conditions. Once you go, you may well be talking about the spring "winter" adventure of a lifetime.
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