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

The summit received a total melted equivalant of .3 inches (.75 cm) of water. This fell in the form of snow, sleet, ice pellets, and mostly rain. This may be lubricating a buried ice layer in an isolated pocket of snow from earier in the week, but this isn't a widespread hazard. As the front moves through expect some rain showers mixing with frozen precipatation. Expect a brief increase in the avalanche danger if we pick up steady rain. However, based on the weather forecast this should be short lived as the higher summits are expecting temperatures to drop into the teens later today. This will begin freezing the surface and move into the snowpack through the evening hours. Be prepared for changing weather, avalanche, and snow surface conditions as the day continues. The surface should be very slick by later today so be prepared with crampons, an ice axe, and mountaineering skill. A slip and fall on a slick slope could produce grave consequences as rocks are in most runout areas. Climbers, hikers, skiers, and riders need to be prepared to use their mountaineering skills and have all the right equipment.

We are heading into spring conditions so start watching for the usual warm weather hazards. One example, but not limited to, is the Little Headwall which is beginning to be undermined.

ICE DAM development should be one of the primary hazards for ice climbers in the Ravines after the temperature drops with the frontal pass. 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, and watch for ice flows, emerging rocks, and changing conditions.

 
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