Environment and Outdoors

Backcountry Skiing Thrives As Spring Arrives In Northeast

Maine Public | By Robert Bukaty - Associated Press

Published May 1, 2018 at 6:55 AM EDT

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In this Saturday, April 21, 2018, photo, Drew Zimber skis through the Randolph Community Forest, north of the Mounts Madison and Adams, in background, in Randolph, New Hampshire.

BARTLETT, N.H. - A group of backcountry skiers is working to expand the sport in parts of northern New Hampshire and western Maine.

The Granite Backcountry Alliance recently received approval from the U.S. Forest Service to develop and maintain ski trails in the White Mountain National Forest on sections of Bartlett Mountain and Baldface Mountain.

Last summer, Granite Backcountry worked with the town of Randolph to open up about 75 acres of glades on Crescent Ridge.

Backcountry skiing has a long history in the White Mountain National Forest. Mount Washington is considered the epicenter of backcountry skiing in the Northeast.

Skiers have been flocking to the mountain's Tuckerman Ravine for nearly 100 years and have been attracted by steep, consequential terrain more commonly found out West or in Europe.