Spring Skiing in Tuckerman’s Ravine

April is an interesting month in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and western Maine. It’s not quite spring yet, nor is it winter. Suzie Laskin, a team member here at Mount Washington Valley, was just in Philadelphia, and spring is in full bloom. Here, it comes a little later. There are still some patches of snow on the ground, the days grow warmer, yet the nights are still pretty chilly. The lakes are starting to melt and soon it will officially be “ice-out”. Let the boating begin! We are eagerly awaiting the opening of Hurricane Mountain Road, when commuting from North Conway to Chatham will be cut in half.

Some intrepid ski enthusiasts will hike up Mount Washington via the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to ski Tuckerman’s Ravine, and if there’s enough snow cover they’ll ski back down the Sherbourne Trail to the Pinkham Notch AMC base camp. Back down in “the Valley”, the hectic pace of ski season gives way to quieter times. There are no long lines of people waiting to get into restaurants and there are no traffic tie-ups on Route 16. One of our favorite things to do this time of year is to take long walks along the Rec Path in Fryeburg or at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds. These paths are paved so that “mud season” doesn’t factor into the picture, and we can walk my 5000 steps on an uncrowded path, surrounded by majestic pine trees, looking at the beautiful mountain view to the west.

We’d love to hear what your favorite things are this time of year!