For those who are more amped about snowy fun than Christmas Day, you can count down to the official start of winter with this 21-day advent(ure) calendar. Tick them daily for a treat-a-day leading up to December 21, or use it as a guide to the most wonderful time of year. Either way, you’re in for a whole lot of fun!
- December 1: You can’t technically claim a winter ascent before December 21, but early December generally provides hikers with winter conditions on Franconia Ridge.
- December 2: Fill your stockings with fun exploring all the snowy wonders Vermont’s Mad River Valley has to offer.
- December 3: Sure, the Black Dike gets climbed in October—but as us mere mortals wait for lines to form, now is the time to get your ice climbing kit ready to go.
- December 4: Get views for days tackling this three-peak traverse in the MacIntyre Range.
- December 5: Avalanches do occur on the East Coast; whether you’re skiing steep stuff or climbing gullies, sign up for an AIARE course and get yourself avy savvy.
- December 6: Tick a classic with a wintry ascent of Mount Colden’s Trap Dike.
- December 7: You’re going to get plenty of opportunities to get your puffy dirty this winter, but you can at least start the season with a clean slate jacket.
- December 8: Whether a beginning backcountry skier or a seasoned pro, skiers of all skill levels have enjoyed schussing the slopes on Mount Cardigan for almost a century.
- December 9: Stretch your legs and try one of these classic peaks in the Catskills.
- December 10: Uphill at the resort and build a base for backcountry skiing later in the winter.
- December 11: Have you always wanted to ice climb? If so, check out one of these awesome beginner-friendly ice climbing areas or sign up for a lesson with the EMS climbing school.
- December 12: Discover this under-the-radar backcountry skiing destination in Massachusetts.
- December 13: Visit “Big Nansen,” one of the most famous ski jumps in the U.S. and pet project of the Nansen Ski Club, the country’s oldest continually operating ski club.
- December 14: If a single pitch of ice isn’t satisfying enough, try one of these easier multi-pitch ice climbs in Crawford Notch.
- December 15: You don’t always have to travel to the mountains to find quality ice climbing. Explore one of these unique ice climbing areas.
- December 16: Looking for a real challenge? Try picking from this list of the Northeast’s hardest winter climbs.
- December 17: Beat the crowds that flock to Tuckerman Ravine in the spring and ski Tucks in the winter—skier Aaron Rice laid tracks in Tucks in October this year!
- December 18: Not ready to tackle Tucks? Ski Mount Washington from the west along the more mellow Cog Railway.
- December 19: Some argue the best skiing in New Hampshire isn’t found on the state’s biggest peaks, but rather in the woods. Check out some of the Granite State’s best tree skiing.
- December 20: Conquer a classic multi-pitch ice climb with an ascent of Shoestring Gully.
- December 21: Celebrate the first official day of winter in style—check one of the Northeast’s most classic mountaineering lines off your list with an ascent of the Lion Head on Mount Washington. Not ready to go it alone? The EMS Climbing School runs trips up the Rockpile all winter.
’Tis the season to be jolly, especially if you tick these awesome activities off this winter. Have other adventures schemed up for the advent of winter? If so, let us know about them in the comments!
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