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.

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.

• Boots will be limited, please plan accordingly.

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.

Each registered participant receives one raffle ticket included with their registration. Additional tickets will be available for purchase during the event. Over $5,500 in prizes are available, including high-end touring gear, apparel, and accessories.

The raffle will take place from 4:00 – 4:30 PM inside Zips Pub, before the Women’s Après Ski Party.

Raffle Prizes

• Blizzard Zero G Skis (88W or 96W)

• Fischer Transalp 86 CTI

• Choice of Weston Splitboard

• Norrona More Gore-Tex Jacket

• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Aspect 32L Pack

• Mammut Nirvana 22L Pack

• Stio Dawner Hooded Jacket

• Pair of Rocky Talkie Radios

• Therm-ic Heated Socks

• TREW Gift Card or Kit

• $150 Gift Cards from Wild Rye and Iksplor

• Ibex Gear

• Darn Tough Socks

• Skida Snow Tubes

• Wild Bones Wear Gear

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.

11:00AM - Queer Community Tour

Description: Come walk and talk about queer joy, growth, challenge, and self discovery through nature.  

Leaders: Sara Meehan-Marinich and Ryan O’Donnell 

• Sara Meehan-Marinich (she/her/hers): is an IST volunteer and a route setter for Central Rock Gym. Sara is a married poly queer who loves ski touring, rock climbing, and spending time with her queer fam. Come spend time with us and our community on the mountains and on the slopes

• Ryan O’Donnell (she/her/hers): is an IST x Kindling Collective volunteer, MSW student, all things outdoor enthusiast, and proud member of our queer community. Some of her favorite parts of uphill skiing come from the chats on the skin track. Come walk and talk about queer joy, growth, challenge, and self discovery through nature.  

12:00 PM - All About Backcountry Skiing / Riding Tour

Description: Join us for this walk and talk to learn about backcountry skiing and riding, backcountry safety concerns to be aware of, and the core knowledge necessary to get out and recreate in the backcountry.

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

Leaders: Mack Connor and Hilary McCloy

• Mack Connor (she/her/hers): originally from Cape Cod, MA, has been guiding and instructing since 2019, with a strong focus on inclusive outdoor education. She has spent the past three winter seasons as IST's intro to backcountry guide, striving to create accessible and welcoming experiences for all. With a background in Environmental Science and Outdoor Leadership from the University of Maine, Mack has instructed rock climbing, skiing, paddling, and mountaineering courses, developing a deep passion for experiential education. As a female voice in the outdoor industry, she is dedicated to fostering safe, inclusive spaces that prioritize growth, mental health, and lifelong learning.

• Hilary McCloy (she/her/hers): PT, DPT lives in Jackson NH and runs a Physical Therapy business as a day job working with skiers, runners and the local community.  But spends her free time backcountry skiing in the White Mountains and around the world as a member of the Blizzard Tecnica W2W program and a Norrona athlete. Hilary is a member of the Protect Our Winters athlete alliance.

1:00 PM - Active Parenting Tour 

Description: Come chat about being an active parent- whether you are one or want to be one!

Leaders: Meg Pierce, Katherine Donnelly, and Katy Ryan

• Meg Pierce (she/her/hers): is the mom of a 10-month old girl. She is also the Director of the Women's Program for IST, volunteers with a girls mountain bike camp, works full time as an engineer, and has a million outdoor/active hobbies. She recognizes that balancing it all can be a bit nerve wracking. Come chat raising strong little adventurers while making time for your own pursuits, goals, and aspirations. 

• Katherine Donnelly (she/her/hers): calls Kingfield, ME her basecamp and home, where she loves to get outside for increasingly long walks, bike rides, and ski tours with her nearly 2 year old (how did that happen??) daughter. When not running around in circles after a mischievous toddler, Katherine works for TREW Gear as their Director of Operations and volunteers her dwindling free time to developing mountain bike events & trail opportunities throughout New England.

• Katy Ryan (she/her/hers): grew up in Massachusetts and has lived in Maine for over 10 years. She is a mom to a 4-year-old and a nearly 1-year-old, and makes a point of getting outside as much as she can, for adventures both big and small. She is an avid runner and hiker and just started ski touring this winter after wanting to try it for years, proving it's always doable even if you have a young family. 

2:00 PM - Uphill Gear Talk

Description: Join this walk and talk to learn more about backcountry touring gear, the different options available, and how to decide what’s best for you.

Leader: Sara Thomson owner of Mountain Sports Lab

Capture the magic of the Women’s Uphill Bash and showcase your creativity! Our photo contest will run all day long. To enter snap a photo during the event, post it on Instagram, and tag us + Cranmore in your post or story.

The winner will receive an exclusive prize basket filled with amazing gear and goodies from our event partners!

Each game encourages teamwork, creativity, and skill-building, offering a mix of friendly competition, personal growth, and lighthearted fun. These create a welcoming space to bond, boost confidence, and celebrate the unique experiences and perspectives of women in the outdoors.

More information and specifics will be available day of.

Join us from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM for the Women’s Apres Ski Party at Zips Pub with live music, light appetizers, and a cash bar!

Event Ticket Price: $40
(Note: This price does not include an uphill ticket.)

In alignment with our mission, if this presents a financial barrier, IST will cover your event ticket cost. Simply use the code “inclusive2025” at checkout.

Cranmore Uphill Tickets + Uphill Policy: For your convenience so you can find more information on purchasing your uphill ticket and Cranmore’s Uphill Policies. You have to purchase the uphill ticket in person, but this gives you the opportunity to see more information before attending the event. Click here!

Cranmore Lift Ticket Deal: We recognize that touring all day isn’t easy! So, we’ve worked with Cranmore to offer participants of this event discounted lift tickets for the day (also good for uphill access). The discount code to access this deal is included in our sign up confirmation email.

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 IST2025 when booking to take advantage of this special offer. Rates start at just $30.60 per night.

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. Rates are $29.70 per night with this discount.