Massachusetts Winter Athletes Face Avalanche Threat Up North

Many Massachusetts winter sports enthusiasts, especially those in eastern Massachusetts, head north to ski, snowboard and enjoy other cold-weather outdoor recreational activities.

Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire offer some of the finest downhill and cross-country skiing. Boston.com reports Conde Naste Traveler readers say, "Five of the top ski resorts in the U.S. are in New England."

All five are in New Hampshire and Vermont.

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57 Hours says New Hampshire's Tuckerman Ravine at Mount Washington offers "New Hampshire's finest backcountry terrain in the northeast." The website refers to Tuckerman Ravine as "the birthplace of extreme skiing in the US," and "the crown of northeast skiing."

"You have to be an advanced backcountry skier to let loose here."

Tuckerman Ravine is known for having a "55-foot snowpack" and "easy access to skiing above the snowline."

Tuckerman Ravine is also known for its occasional avalanches.

The Mount Washington Avalanche Center released video footage of a "large natural avalanche" on December 24, 2024, at Tuckerman Ravine near the Hillman's Highway trail. No people were involved.

Seacoastonline.com reports the Mount Washington Avalanche Center believes the avalanche occurred after "several inches of new snow and several hours of significant wind loading."

While avalanches in New England are uncommon, they can still occur, particularly in the high elevations of New Hampshire's White Mountains, especially in the Presidential Range.

The site reports about 25 people on Mount Washington require assistance from rescue groups each year. It says at least 150 deaths have been recorded on the mountain, 17 of which are blamed on avalanches.

Backcountry skiers and snowboarders in New England should be aware of avalanche risks and practice safety measures when venturing into steep terrain.

The U.S. Forest Service says, "Winter recreational use of the Presidential Range, including Mount Washington, is intense. Since 1954 there have been 10 avalanche fatalities and many other avalanche accidents in the Presidential Range."

"Historical data indicate that avalanche accidents have increased in the past decade, mirroring the national trend in recreation-related avalanche accidents in the United States," says the Forest Service.