About.

The Backcountry Festival runs 5 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, friendly competition, live music, professional athletes, and social gatherings, it’s the premier backcountry skiing festival in the Northeast.  Welcome!

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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, competitions, 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.

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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.

  • Tyler T. Ray | Festival Director

    Since the inception of the Backcountry Festival in 2017, Tyler has been the steady voice behind the mic keeping energy high and vibrant. Moving in to the role of Festival Director in 2022, Tyler has re-imagined the Festival with new direction and perspective to broaden the event’s appeal to wintertime enthusiasts with new socials and clinics, yet cater to the backcountry skier with new events such as the Tuckerman Tango.

    Tyler is Principal of Backyard Concept, LLC, a forward-thinking outdoor advocacy firm specializing in legal, consulting, management, and advocacy services focused in the outdoor recreation space. BYC’s work with businesses, outdoor organizations, non-profits, and individuals relies on Tyler’s 15+ years in the business and non-profit space. Tyler’s unique north country skill-set combines his skills as a business attorney, MBA, public speaker, creative force and athlete to lead BYC and now the Festival, too.

    Tyler is no stranger to backcountry skiing being the founder of Granite Backcountry (as well as Granite Outdoor, NH outdoor business alliance). Tyler lives in No. Conway with his wife and two kids.

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