Skier Takes On The East Coast's Finest Sheet Of Ice
Brooks Curran, a self-proclaimed Vermont raised photographer with a skiing addiction, is no stranger to hardcore, East Coast conditions.
That familiarity was put to the test yesterday on Mount Washington (the highest mountain in the Northeast) as Brooks skied (or should I say, skated?) down the icy slope.
Brooks not only makes it down the line unscathed, he manages to sneak more than a few turns in there, too.
Don't be fooled by this footage, though. Mount Washington is home to Tuckerman Ravine, a popular backcountry ski destination for East Coasters far and wide.
When I was growing up, my dad made the trek from Maine to New Hampshire every winter to hike--and ski--the ravine. A map of Tuckerman's still hangs above the stairs to the basement, where it marks the rite-of-passage challenge it presents for skiers in the area.
Located on the east slope of Mount Washington, Tuckerman's offers an open bowl with the potential to get really good with enough snow.
According to the Time for Tuckerman website, a helpful tool put together by skiers of the ravine, "the Tuckerman Ravine has an average of 55 feet or 17 m of natural snowpack during the winter season, but it’s the snowpack that occurs during April through July that brings people all year round."
Watch Chris Davenport and Hugo Harrisson tackle Tuckerman Ravine below.
Mount Washington also has some of the worst weather in the world, adding to the extremity of the trek to the top.
During the peak of the winter season, there is high avalanche risk, so most people wait until spring when conditions are more stable.
Related: Trip Report: Mount Washington's Mixed Bag
Despite the danger, Mount Washington, especially Tuckerman Ravine, are a huge draw for adventure enthusiasts everywhere.
Yesterday, Curran's comment section was filled with people making jokes and asking questions.
From "everything is powder if you try hard enough" to "props for doing it, but why?!" as a skier with East Coast roots, I have one answer for this commenter: because it's there.
Related: Classic Lines: Tuckerman Ravine
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