Skinning & Skiing At Crescent Ridge Glade – Randolph, New Hampshire

PHOTO: Here is where the skin track splits from the Carlton Notch Trail and the blue diamond blazes lead to the top of the Crescent Ridge Glade.

by Amy Patenaude
Outdoor/Ski Writer

At the Randolph Community Forest Trailhead parking lot at the end of Randolph Hill Road it was minus five degrees at 8:30am and Becca was already putting on her snowboard boots.
The impressive snow banks were shoulder high; this wasn’t that surprising since there is more snow at higher elevations and the end of the road tops out just shy of 2000 feet.
We were surprised our cars weren’t the first in the lot but the 4th and 5th ones. People were ahead of us grabbing the goods. We’d just try to get our share of what was leftover of the previous day’s fresh powder snow.
This glade alpine touring area was made possible by the cooperation of the Community Forest and the Granite Backcountry Alliance. For information about more glade zones and their mission visit their website, GraniteBackCountryAlliance.org.

I shoved my feet into my ski boots while Becca stretched her skins on each piece of her splitboard. I had put my skins on my skis back at the house to save a little time. We were bundled up and in our backpacks we had food and drink, a warm jacket and extra gloves/mittens. Only my nose was cold.
The skintrack, the uphill access path, begins by following the Carlton Notch Trail. There is a track that cuts down to the Trail leaving from the left side of the information kiosk. The Trail parallels the Jimtown Logging Road/snowmobile route and soon crosses the snowmobile route. Be sure to look both ways before you cross the busy snowmobile trail.
We passed by the snow covered Mt. Crescent Water Company reservoir, it is really small and you wouldn’t know it if it weren’t for the fence and sign. The skintrack turns off the Carlton Notch Trail just after crossing over the snowbridged Carlton Brook and blue diamonds blaze the route. Here we were warmed up from our alpine touring efforts and we shed our jackets.
It took us about 30 minutes to reach the wildlife clearing at the bottom of the Crescent Ridge Glade. This large area was cleared for the benefit of the animals and birds and opened the vista for us. From this open area there is a striking view south to the Northern Presidentials. The bright snow capped peaks of Mount Madison and Mount Adams looked so near and daunting. The view to the southeast over Pine Mountain and beyond to the Imp and Mount Moriah is grand too.

From the wildlife clearing the climbing becomes steeper and winds around and climbs another 600 vertical feet to an elevation 3,000 feet.
We didn’t see or hear anyone ahead or behind us. I asked Becca if she wanted to go in search of the highpoint of North Randolph, a peak on the New Hampshire 3,000 footer list. Of course she was game. The top of the glade is just below and south of the summit, so we pushed upward and winding through the trees. It was an effort especially when the snow loaded branches of the trees let loose and bombed us.

I had been there once before five years ago in the summer bushwhacking straight up from the Crescent Ridge Trail. I don’t think we would have ever found the top if I didn’t know what it looked like and I confess I did lead us around in a circle missing it a couple times. It doesn’t appear very prominent; it is on top of a rock outcropping in the middle of a flattish area.
We followed our tracks back down to the top of the glades where we removed our skins and prepped for a nice ride down the mountain. Two other skiers were now there readying to descend too.
The cold fluffy snow, resting on top of a few moguls that were formed after previous storms, was still soft and fun under our feet. We cut between the open hardwood forest finding untracked snow. The upper part of the glade is steep and the run mellows as it returns to the wildlife area. It was sunny and the temperature was climbing into the low teens and we felt warm from all our activity.

We put our skins back on and we climbed up again for a second lap. As we headed back up a few other people had arrived. We also passed a couple people on the way up to the top of the glade.
The second run we took a different line and enjoyed making turns in the forest. At the bottom of the glade we could see that more people were arriving so we decided it was a good time for us to leave.
The skiing was fast and fun down the track. We zoomed by at least a dozen more people headed up to the glade. For a snowboarder the brook crossing is a tad difficult. Becca wasn’t able to skate up the other side like I could on my skis. She had to take her board off and walk up the bank.
It was almost noon when we got back to the car and we ate our lunch in the parking lot. Every space and a few creative parking spaces were now filled. Parking along the road is prohibited. This popular ski and snowboard glade sees a lot of action, it is a fine way to spend a winter’s day.
Have fun.