FAQs

I’m heated, anxious, jonesing, sleep-deprived, and it hasn’t even really snowed yet. Can I call the Festival Hotline and berate someone?

No! Save the hot-blooded phone call for the office. Up north, we enjoy simple pleasures, like neck-deep pow turns, cider donuts, and whiskey. Please treat our staff with respect - we all want the same things in life so let’s remember to #skikind and be a good neighbor! Thank you!

Do you provide backcountry skiing and riding equipment?

No, you must provide your own equipment or rent from a third-party rental provider in advance.

Do I need avalanche safety equipment to participate?

Avalanche safety equipment (beacon/transceiver, shovel, probe) will be required for courses that travel into avalanche terrain. This will depend on course itineraries and weather/snow conditions. There are courses available that will not travel into avalanche terrain, and you will not need avalanche safety equipment for those courses.

Do you provide avalanche safety equipment?

Avalanche safety equipment (beacon/transceiver, shovel, probe) is not provided by BC Fest. Certain guiding companies and rental outfits will have equipment available to rent.

Do you rent or sell avalanche safety equipment at the festival?

No, but avalanche safety equipment (beacon/transceiver, shovel, probe) is available for sale or rent at local vendors including Ragged Mountain Equipment, White Mountain Ski Company, REI and othres, but you may want to call first (see item #1 on what not to do).

Is food provided?

If you're headed out for a full-day course, please pack your own lunch and snacks- you are brown-bagging it. Pro-Tip: Anything tastes good in the backcountry, but you have to bring it.

What will the weather be like?

Check the Mount Washington Observatory for higher elevation mountain weather and the weather in surrounding towns. Visit the Mount Washington Avalanche Center for the avalanche advisory. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Gray, ME provides forecasting for the White Mountains region.

Weather outlook and snow conditions look crappy, can I cancel?

You can cancel at any time, however, the outcome depends on the timing of your request. Please understand due to advance planning these policies are put in place to run the business. If you cancel at a hotel or flight and you’re past the cancellation date, you lose your payment. The same concept applies. See the cancellation policy on the registration page and below. All changes require a $20 administrative fee.

Payment is due in full at the time of registration. For course cancellations 30 or more days from 02/21/2025, you have the option of a refund minus $20 admin fee or a credit with future festival. For course cancellations 29 to 14 days from 02/21/2025, you will receive a credit with future festival minus $20 admin fee. For course cancellations 13 days or less from 02/21/2025, there will be no refunds or credits due to the advanced planning necessary to run the Festival.