Night Skiing

Have you ever considered hiking up a mountain, at night, in the middle of winter, wearing ski or snowboard boots, while carrying the rest of your equipment in a pack? Boot packing the whole way up and skiing by headlamp on the way down. If you haven’t, then you are probably aren’t as crazy as my friends and me.

Night skiing, though trees, in the backcountry by headlamp is one of those rare experiences I’m glad I got to share with my friends. Now this adventure is not for the inexperienced or novice skier. Our group included four Wilderness First Responders, each with their own med kit and two leaders who have led this hike over ten times this season.

What is it like to ski at night through trees and along trails guided just by headlamps? It’s great! Of course, the pace is slower due to darkness and the need to keep the group together with frequent check-ins, but it’s an experience like never before, forcing you to go outside of your comfort zone, face your fears and trust your friends but most of all, let loose and trust yourself. There are frequent whoops of joy from the woods and those help guide you down but when you let one out it is an invigorating experience of YES, I can do this!

If you are not ready for a night skiing experience I believe the next best thing is hiking along Route 108, where it is closed, into the notch and enjoying the views, the stars and the way the lights look in town. It is also a really unique experience to look down and see these giant lights looming on the mountain and figuring out which trail is currently being groomed.


On another note… Nor’easter tomorrow??? Check out the forecast!

Just as spring was beginning to make another comeback, we get word of another snowstorm!



See you on the slopes!

-Megan