AVALANCHE HAZARD! This zone contains significant risk of avalanche so please be prepare with, at minimum, beacon, probe, and shovel. Check the latest weather forecast to see if conditions are likely to change while you are in the backcountry. Never travel alone. Always have one or more companions. Even small avalanches can be fatal. If you are alone and get trapped, you may not be found until it’s too late. If crossing a slope that may be prone to avalanches, do it one person at a time. You want to minimize the impact on your party if an avalanche is accidentally released.

Chatham, NH

Baldface is situated in the northeast corner of the White Mountain National Forest on the Maine/New Hampshire state line. Intrepid backcountry skiers have long been drawn here to the Cold River Valley to explore the open ledge alpine terrain of North Baldface, South Baldface, and Baldface Knob.

Despite the alpine challenges, the prize zones here are the many above-treeline faces that can make for great wilderness skiing from the top of the summits. The open slab on Balface Knob now connects to new ridgeline glades, where there is much fun to be had for all. The glades begin steeply in the upper elevations and transition to mellow cruisers midway and toward the bottom. Skiers can now explore 2,500 vertical feet of skiing from the top of the Knob, connecting to the Ridgeline Glades, and exiting all the way back to the parking area.

The Slippery Brook Trail (maintained by Chatham Trails Association) serves as the uphill skin track here. To access the glades, those who wish to ski only below treeline can end their ascent at the 2,400’ elevation point and then traverse north to the start of the glade zone. Those who want to ski in alpine terrain can continue uphill on the Slippery Brook Trail to the Knob, or higher. The glade sections are at treeline at the bottom of Baldface Knob in two keyhole section.

When your tour is finished, be sure to step into Stow Corner Store for some indelible eats, you won’t regret it!

TOUR: Full Day
PARKING: Baldface Circle Trail (Rt. 113)
SHELTER: Baldface Circle Trail (see map)
ELEVATION: Starting 500; Ending 3,000
VERTICAL DROP: 2500 from top of Knob
MAP: Avenza Maps

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