2026 Women’s Uphill Bash

Led by Inclusive Ski Touring Volunteers, group tours will meet in a designated area and will continuously run between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Each tour will start when at least 10 participants are gathered in the designated area. At that time the group will head out with IST volunteers and the process will start over.

Experience the joy of uphill travel in a supportive, welcoming group setting.

We will be offering a few themed tours throughout the day! These are meant to get participants together to explore specific topics. Each of the Walk and Talks for the day are listed below including information about each of these tours, as well as the experts leading them.

Queer Community Tour (11:00 AM): A space to connect and reflect on queer joy, growth, challenge, and self-discovery through time outside. Expect a relaxed, supportive lap with conversation, shared stories, and a chance to meet other queer folks while moving through the mountains together.

Glades, Stewardship, and Backcountry Access with GBA (12:00 PM): Join a Granite Backcountry Alliance (GBA) board member for a walk and talk focused on how human-powered skiing spaces get protected, maintained, and made more accessible in New Hampshire and western Maine. Come learn what GBA is working on, how stewardship and education fit into the bigger picture, and ways to get involved locally.

Community Building with Treeline Outfitters (1:00 PM): Let’s talk about what actually makes community happen. On this lap with Treeline Outfitters, we’ll dig into how to find your people, show up for others on the skintrack, and help create group dynamics that feel welcoming, low-pressure, and fun, especially for folks who are newer to uphill travel.

All About Backcountry Skiing / Riding Tour (2:00 PM): Curious about touring beyond the resort? This walk and talk covers the fundamentals of backcountry skiing and riding, key safety considerations, and the baseline knowledge that helps you start making smart, confident decisions as you work toward getting out in the backcountry.

Note: This walk and talk isn’t actually backcountry skiing and riding, it's chatting about it.

Important Details:

• Demos are available starting at 10:00 AM and must be returned by 3:00 PM. Gear will not go out before 10:00 AM or after 3:00 PM.

• Demo gear goes out on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend arriving early to increase your chances of getting the gear you want.

• Ski Boots will be limited, please plan accordingly. Snowboarders must bring their own boots.

Waitlist System:

• Once gear is checked out, we’ll start a waitlist. You’ll be contacted via phone when gear becomes available.

• 10-Minute Pickup Rule – If you don’t respond or arrive within 10 minutes of our call, the gear will go to the next person on the list.

Demo Gear Disclaimer: Demo gear is available to provide participants with the opportunity to try different touring setups and find what works best for them. It is not a full-day rental, and availability is not guaranteed. To ensure everyone has a chance to demo, gear must be swapped out throughout the event.

If you need a full-day rental, we recommend reserving equipment from a local shop in advance separate from the event.

$4,000+ in prizes from Blizzard Tecnica, Darn Tough, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, TREW, Iksplor, Stio, Black Diamond, Descent / Therm-ic, Wild Rye, Ibex, Picture Organic Clothing, Skida, Cheese Louise, White Mountain Sauna Haus, Gordini, and more.

Each registered participant receives one raffle ticket included with their registration. Additional tickets will be available for purchase during the event.

The raffle will take place from 4:00 – 4:30 PM inside Zips Pub.

Check out these low-pressure, drop-in challenges that are meant to be fun, a little silly, and a great way to meet people between laps. Swing by, jump in for one round or a few, and cheer on your friends (and new touring buddies).

Musical Poles: A ski twist on the classic party game musical chairs, with poles instead. Quick rounds, lots of laughs, and a perfect mid-day energy boost.

Ski Boot Relay: Grab a partner and join a run/walk relay race in your ski boots (boots in walk mode). Equal parts hilarious and competitive, with plenty of encouragement from the sidelines.

Transition Race: How fast can you switch from uphill to downhill mode? Stop by the IST tent anytime to record a timed transition. You’ll remove your skins, put your boots into ski mode, and switch your bindings to downhill mode. An IST volunteer will be there to walk you through it, and can demo a transition if you’d like (the demo will be done slowly, for learning). We’ll post the current time-to-beat at the tent throughout the day.

The Women’s Uphill Bash is open to women, trans, and queer individuals of all uphill experience levels. This event is designed to foster an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment where participants can connect, learn, and celebrate the joy of uphill travel. We are committed to creating a space where everyone feels welcome and valued in the outdoors.

At Inclusive Ski Touring, we understand that the cost of accommodations can be a barrier to accessing the great outdoors. That's why we've partnered with COHO Hostel and Northeast Mountaineering to offer exclusive, budget-friendly lodging options for our community.

COHO Hostel: Enjoy a 15% discount on your stay at COHO Hostel. Use the code IST2026 when booking to take advantage of this special offer.

NEM Bunkhouse: Enjoy a 33% discount on your stay at the Northeast Mountaineering Bunkhouse. Use the code ISTBUNK when booking to take advantage of this special offer.

Note: as of 2/23/26 all affordable accommodations have been reserved.