Similar to how I approached climbing Loon Mountain several days ago, I had been secretly observing all the happenings going on over at Bretton Woods Ski Resort for several weeks leading up to my ascent this morning. With no chance in hell I was going to pay for an uphill ticket just to utilize my own muscle power to trek up and down a big hill, I patiently waited for the resort to close, making it somewhat easier to simply fly under the radar.

With the resort now closed for the season, weather also lined up for me with a slight cold snap to refreeze the remaining snowy surface - I figured now was my golden opportunity. While I am still waiting for snow above 3,000’ to melt away, this proved to be a great late-season option to snowshoe from my car to summit and back down; I certainly enjoy snowshoeing but can’t stand fumbling with gear - once the snowshoes are on my feet I don’t want to stop to pack them back away.

*Ascending with the Dartmouth Range nearby*

Leading up to my ascent I checked not only multiple weather websites but also their website for any hidden catches involved with climbing in the closed resort, I also found valuable the live webcam, where I could view the remaining snowpack on the ski slopes - I was sold.

After several days of light trail running shoes it certainly felt odd to be back in La Sportiva mountaineering boots with Tubbs snowshoes attached, but at least the remaining snow at the resort was solid, supportive and a pleasure to climb at 7:40am. There were a few cars in the main parking lot so I decided to stash my car well out of the way, over in the dirt overflow parking lot.

*Climbing the last remaining snow patch on Mount Rosebrook*

As there was yet to be any activity on the slopes this early in the morning, I simply chose my route with a quick glance; whichever trail seemed to have a continuous snowpack up its face - this happened to be Bretton’s Wood alongside the Skyway Gondola. Being front and center of the resort afforded stunning views back toward the Dartmouth Range and Cherry Mountain; the Presidential and Pilot Ranges both rose high enough to poke into the cloud ceiling.

This trail eventually led me into the melting terrain park, before long I was bobbing up and over kicker jumps and other glorious mounds of snow. All the rails and technical features had been removed, however, I do wonder how I’d do with snowshoes sliding down a rainbow rail.

*Down the Willey Range: Mts Stickney, Echo & Tom*

For such a low mountain, at 3,004’, Mount Rosebrook’s views certainly proved top notch and I thought very unique for this area of the White Mountains, little did I know even better vistas were waiting from atop Mount Oscar’s ledges and near-bald summit.

Passing the Latitude 44° club house I tip toed over exposed gravel of the maintenance/access road and back onto hardpacked snow for the remainder of the ascent. Along the way I stepped wide over large cracks, crevasses or fissures in the snow - appearing as part of the snow sheet had crept downslope, opening up deep cracks which showed bare rock far below.

The largest and most concerning of these fissures was found just beneath the Rosebrook Lodge, I walked clear around it sticking to more solid snow. Had the temperatures been any warmer (like last week, perhaps) I would have been a bit more concerned for a slip but with snow conditions as solid and consolidated as I was finding after two days of freezing, I just took extra care in those brief sections.

Continuing the final ascent south from the Rosebrook Lodge I had the unloading area of Rosebrook Summit Express Quad insight the entire trek while the surrounding peaks made a lasting imprint in my memory; as the clouds began to lift from the alpine zone, the summit cones of the lower (southern) Presidential’s showed a fresh powdery dusting atop their scrappy conifers.

*USFS survey bearing tree atop Mt Rosebrook*

After several minutes spent roaming atop a solid snowpack through the forest behind the ski resort map, I found the White Mountain National Forest boundary line (blazed red) and their survey Bearing Tree; I suppose with no remains of the old fire tower or summit canister, this was as close to a celebration as I would get atop Mount Rosebrook today. I retraced my steps back downslope toward the Rosebrook Lodge to meander over toward my next destination: Mount Oscar.

While still trying to remain atop any dwindling snowpack, I traversed what resembled a knife-edge snow bank, picking a route directly across the precarious ridgeline. Nearing the col I started spotting trails off to the left and decided to mix up my scenery for some good ol’ 2,600’ boreal forest. What I found was a beautiful, narrow corridor slicing through the spruce, fir and birch grove; small bear tracks had wandered through recently, traveling away from Mt Oscar - I had been wondering how long it would be until encountering the fuzzy woodland creatures in the backcountry, figures it would be atop a ski resort!

With uncertainty of where the path would guide me, I continued to check my direction frequently, each time pleased to find I was still on track to Mt Oscar’s summit; occasionally I passed yellow-colored Snowshoe Trail markers as well as brown + white hiker icon signs; at one point even passing an enticing sign offering a detour to the West Wall, advising the route was for “rock climbers only”.

Nearing the summit I carried my snowshoes as the footway alternated between soft conifer needles, exposed roots and patches of bare granite. There was even a taste of the stunning views which await from a short spur path with a panorama of Mt Rosebrook, the Willey Range and Mt Hale while the highest rocks of Mt Carrigain were in a cloud far in the distance.

Just before making my way to the bare summit for more vast southwesterly views, I was shocked to see a yellow Cog Railway train car sitting on the mountaintop. It appeared to be used for storage today but was such an unexpected find out here in the Rosebrook Range.

The summit of Mount Oscar continues to grow back following a fire long ago which denuded its summit area; mosses and lichens regrow on the remaining soil which fill cracks and holes in otherwise bare rock slabs, conifers grow short and stout to remain sturdy enough to withstand harsh White Mountain winds, even the breath-taking views are some of the finest I’ve witnessed in the mountains.

A very satisfying climb was had in the northern hills of the Willey Range; if not for today’s snowpack I’d probably opt for bushwhacking from any of the forest roads paralleling Zealand Road, to the west. This will probably happen sooner or later, however, I don’t think I’ll be making a summer trek up a loose ski slope surface anytime soon; with the mountain range completely to myself - today was just right.

Overall stats for the day:
4.64-miles
2hr 16 minutes
2,021’ elevation gain

Mount Oscar - 2,746’
Mount Rosebrook - 3,004’

Mt Rosebrook + Mt Oscar

Peaked Mountain (Piermont)

East Kineo Mtn + Black Hill