Steep and icy

Back at the Mount Washington Backcountry Ski festival. After last year's beginner clinic, I tried an advanced Splitboarding clinic this year. The problem for the festival was that there wasn't too much snow to begin with, and then, the Friday before everything started, it rained pretty heavily, up to high altitudes and pretty much washed the remaining snow out.

So, our guide decided to make the clinic technical. Which in hindsight was a good call. We learned and practiced self-arrest and different crampons and ice axe techniques. It was good from that standpoint. Not what I was hoping for (steep fluffy turns), but I head a good learning experience.

It was also one of the most scariest situations in my life I guess. With crampons on we were climbing up that steep icy gully. The problem was it was thawing and rocks above us were coming loose and rolling down. So I had one eye on where I was trying to step and find some grip, and the other eye watching for rocks above me, so that I could jump to the side in case there was one coming my way.

That was especially fun when trying to change gear, assemble the Splitboard, find a stable position on that steep terrain, strap in, everything while keeping an eye towards rolling down rocks.

Needless to say, the ride down was super sketchy too. Not really the terrain my Stormchaser powder board was designed for.

The next day we played it safer: did some easy exploration through a hardwood forest, and then skinned up a closed resort (due to COVID19).

Gorgeous days though, warm and sunny spring conditions. Just very little snow unfortunately.