Nordic Tracks: Enjoying an end-of-the-season adventure ski

In the 1990s, the Mount Washington Nordic Club hosted an “end-of-the-season adventure ski.” As snow was melting fast from touring centers, adventuresome club members sought out skiable snow on snowmobile trails and White Mountain National Forest service roads and trails. A favorite route was to connect Bear Notch Road to Sawyer Pond Road via Rob Brook Road and other trails. The challenge was to see if there was enough snow to make connections.

Last Sunday, Colin Pogue, a young skier and Jackson instructor, decided to revive that tradition. He posted the following announcement earlier this month: “Adventure Ski: I am proposing we unearth a classic WMNC tradition and organize a ski traverse of the Bear Notch Road — Sawyer River Road snowmobile trail network. The trip is an icon of skiing in the White Mountains, best done in the spring conditions and achievable by any intermediate or above skier. Twenty-one miles beginning from Bear Notch Road in Bartlett, climbing over the notch and down to the forest roads running parallel north of the (Kancamagus Highway), then connecting with Sawyer River Road to return to Route 302. Meeting Sunday, March 15, by 8:30 a.m at Grant's grocery store parking lot, then carpooling over to Bartlett with the intent to drop some vehicles at the finish and some at the start. Bringing the light essentials of going out for a ski in the backcountry.”