Attitash/Bear Peak across the border in tax-free New Hampshire was on this past Sunday's ski docket.

A fine, fine choice.

For once (in my experience anyway) Attitash had better trail conditions than Bear Peak and we spent most of our time there. Wilfred's Gawm provided the best the best run of the day (Thanks Wilfred, whoever you are. And by the way, what's a "gawm"?), with Tightrope a close second, and Ptarmigan third.

Conditions overall were excellent with grippy snow that allowed for plenty of high speed fun well into the afternoon when the ice won out and the knees wore out (and the Red Parka began calling our names).

FYI: Parking at Bear Peak is easy and I find the lodge there to be much less of a crowded nightmare than back down the road at Attitash, so it's my usual choice.

A fun day of terrific skiing behind us, we packed up and headed down the way a piece to Glen and the world famous Red Parka Pub for popcorn, peanuts and a cold Long Trail Ale (in a mason jar no less). Ahhh.

Further on, the car automatically veered into the parking lot of Ragged Mountain Equipment in Intervale. I was powerless to stop it. Clearly I must have trained the Honda well.

Once inside, what a surprise it was to meet the new official Walmart, er, I mean Ragged Mountain greeters, John and Bob, MOACers from Maine!

The poor boys apparently had broken down (bad alternator) that morning (around 9am) right there in the parking lot of Ragged and had been unable to catch up with their climbing partners, despite borrowing a car from Bob at the store. The day was a wash, so the pair washed away some of their climbing woes at the pub across the driveway and then headed back to harass, er greet, customers entering the store, while passing the time waiting for their climbing partners to show back up (they'd rented gear at Ragged).

Are you following all this?

Me neither.

Suffice it to say that John and Bob were still hanging out inside Ragged when we left a few minutes before closing time (about 5:45pm). I offered them a ride home to Maine, but they declined, confident their friends would arrive soon.

As we pulled away, we waved a sad goodbye. And I noticed their big packs leaning up aganist the building. Sure hope they didn't have to camp out. But at least they'd be prepared.

Isn't climbing fun guys???

Hope your ski-hike-whatever weekend was fun too? Where did you go?

Attitash/Bear Peak, New Hampshire, an ASC resort.

Lots and lots of great skiing just 1 1/2 hours from Portland.

Bear Peak from the base lodge.

Taking off down the Kachina Falls trail.

Views of the Whites, snowmaking on Avenger.

Majestic Mount Washington from the top of Attitash.

Beer in a mason jar, only at the Red Parka.

Gearheads beware... Ragged rocks!!

Unofficial Ragged Mountain greeters: John and Bob from Maine (and Ragged's own Bob in the middle)

Climbers John and Bob getting their only vertical of the day!