Mount Cardigan - The Duke's Trail, NH

I did my first authentic backcountry ski run last weekend (1/16/2010) on Mount Cardigan's Duke's Trail. It was a beautiful, picture perfect day with warm temps and blue skis. We booted up the Manning trail (1.6 miles) towards Firescrew summit. The trail was well hiked and skinned so we didn't need crampons or snowshoes. There was about a foot of snow at the lodge and as we gained elevation, the snow depth increased. The views from the snowfields below the summit were tremendous.

Drifts and boiler plates disguised the run in the beginning, but we followed faint windblown tracks down to the trees and found the 15 foot wide trail. Snapped on skis and tightened up bindings on the snowboard and we were ready for our grand descent.

Had been worried about the condition of the snow because the temps had been well above freezing at the lodge for a couple of days, but the snow up top was good with some heavy corn snow towards the bottom which was fine for the snowboard but a little more trying for downhill alpine skis.

Encountered a few gullies and dips that made my stomach drop in anticipation of a crash but survived upright. Had to take my board off a couple of times and walk - one for an open brook crossing and the other for a flattish section which could have been avoided if I had been going faster. Loved Duke's Meadow at the finish - nice big area to link turns and plow through the heavy snow. A total blast. One and a half hour hike up and half an hour down. Great experience!