About.

The Backcountry Festival runs 8 years deep, but the terrain and community span generations.

From the Beginning.

The festival, first held in 2017, inspires backcountry skiers and riders to push themselves in snowy environments, connect with like-minded backcountry enthusiasts, and showcase the East Coast terrain and bustling backcountry ski industry. Attendees range from first-timers to core enthusiasts seeking experiential adventure and first-class knowledge in the legendary terrain of the White Mountains. Featuring guided skiing and riding tours, live music, professional athletes, and social gatherings, it’s the premier backcountry skiing festival in the Northeast.  Welcome!

Guiding Principles.

  • Goal.

    The Backcountry Festival seeks to educate and cultivate a strong, spirited, and welcoming backcountry community that likes to have fun, ski hard, and dream big!

  • Mission.

    The Festival focuses on socials and clinics to ensure that the skiing community and industry is thriving.

  • Objectives.

    Create opportunities for skiers, riders, and outdoor enthusiasts to participate in any Festival outdoor activity regardless of age, ability, gender or otherwise - we all share a common bond.

How We Got Here.

  • Mark Synnott | Founder

    Mark identified a need in the backcountry community for a full-scale festival production that champions clinics, socials, and competitions, all to deliver a stronger backcountry community. The Mt. Washington Backcountry Festival is the result and after 5 years we’d say he was right - for both the need and the outcome - as the festival has gained national recognition and is positioned as the premier backcountry festival in the Northeast.

    Mark is a North Face athlete, an accomplished IFMGA guide, New York Times bestseller author, the owner and director of one of the premier guide services in the east (Synnott Mountain Guides), and a trainer for the pararescuemen of the US Air Force. He is also a longtime member of the Mountain Rescue Service (MRS) and currently serves on the board of Friends of the Ledges. He lives on a dead-end dirt road in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with his wife and four children.

  • Ailie & Josh | Festival Directors

    Ailie and Josh bring a deep connection to the Mount Washington Valley and a shared passion for the outdoors as co-directors of the Mt. Washington Ski Festival. Josh, a local who grew up in the Valley, is a seasoned guide with Synnott Mountain Guides, bringing expert knowledge of these mountains and a lifetime of experience skiing and exploring the backcountry. Ailie is a dedicated professional consultant for nonprofits, lending her expertise to community-focused causes and initiatives. Both have been integral members of the Valley, balancing professional and personal involvement to support the community they love.

    From skiing, since they could walk, to enjoying any adventure the outdoors offers, Ailie and Josh’s enthusiasm and commitment to the Valley are reflected in every festival aspect. Their combined knowledge and dedication ensure a festival experience grounded in tradition and infused with fresh, local perspectives.