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BACKCOUNTRY Story by LAFE LOW
Photos by Stanley J. Rintz
Jake Carlson finding some fresh tracks in Western Maine.
Backcountry skiing has surged in popularity over the last few years. The pandemic likely had something to do with firing up this trend, as well as general crowding and the increasing expense of alpine skiing resorts. Whatever drives people into the backcountry, more skiers are sampling the thrill of skiing raw, ungroomed terrain. When most think of backcountry
skiing, they think of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, especially Tuckerman Ravine. This is undoubtedly the epicenter of ski touring in New England. There are many other storied ski tours and descents throughout the White Mountains, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only place for solid backcountry skiing. Maine holds its own when it comes to earning your turns.
Skiing Along the Coast Sargent Mountain, the secondhighest peak within Acadia National Park behind the immensely popular Cadillac Mountain, will reward you with a nice solid ski tour, as well as views of the surrounding Atlantic. There are a couple of routes to the top, ranging from about a three-mile more direct route to a longer, but gentler, six-
