Ryan Stuart, explore's gear editor

Poaching Heroin

• Posted on April 10, 2008 at 2:57 PM
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Heading for the summit.

“Poaching powder”

The report from my friends living up at Mount Washington promised 10 centimetres of powder. So, we loaded the skis, boards, a couple friends and our snow loving dog, Silva, and headed up to the silent ski hill. Mount Washington closed on April 6, but not from lack of snow. In fact the base is as deep as it has been all winter. The plan was to hike for some turns and head back to town for the afternoon.

An hour later we were at the top of the Yellow Chair, swinging on the empty lift, happy and sweaty. The girls headed down, while Alex and I headed for the summit with the dog. Part of my motivation for the trip was to scout my leg of the Snow to Surf adventure relay race. So I raced up the steep pitch to the summit - oh it's going to hurt on race day. Another motivation was to test these funky gloves from Komperdel. Lined with Merino wool and neoprene like on the outside the dexterity is awesome. They're too cold for downhill days, but perfect for ski touring. At the top we decided we were going to ski Heroin Chute, a steep and narrow couloir that drops down Mount Washington's north face. I was nervous for Silva, but Alex figured it would be no problem.

The run was sweat with knee deep powder. Silva wasn't as stoked but she made her way down whining the whole way. We're guessing she's the first dog to drop Heroin. I think I'm prouder than she is.

After hiking out we bombed down still buzzing from the adrenaline high. I think Silva was just glad to get in the car and go to sleep.