TUCKERMAN AND HUNTINGTON RAVINES HAVE LOW (FAIBLE) AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets on steep snow covered open slopes and gullies. Normal caution is advised.

Well, here we go again, another drastic temperature swing. Yesterday it reached 50 degrees F (10 C) here at Hermit Lake in the shade. Currently it is 19 F (-8 C) and is expected to drop into the singles, and below 0 F (-18) on the summit of Washington. The

	AVERTISSEMENT DANGER DE GLACE EN CHUTE MASSIVE BLOCKS OF ICE THE SIZE OF AUTOMOBILES TRAVEL AT HIGH SPEEDS, HIT ROCKS, AND SEND DEADLY SHRAPNEL IN ALL DIRECTIONS ——————————— BE ALERT - BE AWARE BE ICE SMART   WHITE MOUNTAIN National Forest

cold front came blasting through between 3 and 5 am this morning bringing a shift in winds and about an inch of rain. The rain saturated the snow pack, opened up brooks, exposed ice on trails, and blew out some small areas such as the Little Headwall. With the rapid drop in temperatures the snowpack is starting to freeze solid and should move from a breakable crust in places to a solid slab of concrete over the next 24-48 hours. This has done wonders to stabilize the snowpack, but has generated a very slick surface for the next snow fall making a possible poor bond at the interface. This crust should also send a falling climber, skier, or hiker to mach 1 within seconds and perhaps to light speed, so travel carefully and have crampons and an ice axe.

Snow showers are forcasted so watch for some slab development in strong lee areas, on the icy surface, if this occurs. Expect an increasing avalanche danger if this comes to fruition.

ICE DAM development should be one of the primary hazards for ice climbers for the next several days. Water running from ice tool placements have been reported in numerous locations so be cautious for hydrolic pressure and ice dams in commonly found areas such as over the top of bulges and steep colums.

THE LION'S HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. Follow the orange Lion Head signs off of the Tuckerman Ravine trail about 1.75 miles up from Pinkham. Use caution on the trail as there are areas where the rocks are showing. Please stay on route to minimize climber impacts to the area. Consider it good practice to move slow and thoughtfully with crampons on rock. This is a difficult steep route so crampons, ice axe, and mountaineering skills are essential.

The ski trail has full coverage but is quite thin, so watch for an occasional rock sticking up through. I expect the trail to be rather unpleasant today as it is freezing rock hard. It saw a lot of use yesterday under very warm spring like conditions. This caused a lot of snow to be pushed around creating burms and some small mogals on hills and corners. These are all freezing solid so be careful.

 
PLEASE REMEMBER:
 
• Any new precipitation may increase the avalanche danger, this includes wind transported snow.
 
• Obtain latest weather forecast before starting out.
 
• For more information, contact the U.S. Forest Service Snow Rangers: AMC at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center or Hermit Lake Shelters.
 
• This bulletin expires today at midnight and the next avalanche bulletin will be issued tomorrow.

 
Christopher Joosen, Snow Ranger
USDA Forest Service
White Mountain National Forest
(603) 466-2713 TTY (603) 466-2856

	TUCKERMAN RAVINE
	Hillman's Highway
	Lower Snowfields
	Little Headwall
	The Bowl
	Headwall
	The Lip
	Left Gully
	Right Gully

	HUNTINGTON RAVINE
	Escape Hatch
	South Gully
	Odell's Gully
	Pinnacle Gully
	Central Gully
	Yale Gully
	Damnation Gully
	North Gully

 
RETOUR