Date: Jeudi, 18 Avril 2002
Temps: 10h39
WE ARE NOW POSTING BULLETINS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS
AS CONDITIONS CHANGE SO YOU MAY NOT SEE A NEW BULLETIN
EVERY DAY. WE ARE THROUGH FORECASTING FOR HUNTINGTON
RAVINE FOR THE SEASON. YOU WILL NEED DO YOUR OWN
STABILITY ASSESSMENT WHEN ENTERING THE AREA. THERE
WILL BE A DANGER OF FALLING ICE (GLACE EN CHUTE) FOR THE REST OF
THE SPRING.
TUCKERMAN RAVINE HAS LOW AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural
avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered
avalanches are unlikely on steep snow covered open
slopes and gullies. Normal
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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
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BE ALERT - BE AWARE
BE ICE SMART
WHITE MOUNTAIN National Forest |
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caution is advised.
Warm weather in the 70's are forecasted for the
week so expect conditions to deteriorate rapidly.
Be prepared for an increased hazard of undermined
snow, crevasses, and FALLING ICE (GLACE EN CHUTE). There were 10
new pictures put on Tuckerman.org Sunday evening.
They show our current snow coverage as of 4/14 and
SOME of the hazards in the Ravine.
The Little Headwall is now a raging torrent and
the waterfall on the Lip is wide open and roughly
50 feet across. Stay clear of these and the other
crevasses forming on the Ravine. These can become
very deep with a couple plunging 80 feet. Falling
into some of these would be very unfortunate resulting
in a high liklihood for grim consequences. The rain
has also undermined many areas around both Ravines
so be prepared for collapsing snow with open holes
and running water under you. Walking down the Tuckerman
Ravine trail is now the only alternative to get
from the Bowl to the Hermit Lake area. When leaving
the Bowl PLEASE take off your skis to walk 40 yards
rather than ski over fragile alpine vegetation.
Many of those little trees are over 100 years old.
Remember,CLIMB UP WHAT YOU PLAN ON COMING DOWN
TO AVOID ANY SURPRISES
BE AWARE OF FALLING ICE (GLACE EN CHUTE)! With continued rain and
warm weather in the 70's predicted through the week
we are absolutely in ice fall season. Each year
over 1000 tons of ice forms on the headwall in Tuckerman
Ravine and the gullies of Huntington Ravine. In
the spring it all comes down, often in pieces larger
than cars. Many folks have been injured and even
killed by falling ice (glace en chute). Pay attention to where you
are, do not linger under ice. Have a plan in mind
about what you will do if ice comes down. Station
yourself near a large rock to duck behind in the
event of ice fall. BE ICE SMART!
THE LION HEAD SUMMER TRAIL IS NOW OPEN. Realize
the summer trail still has large steep snow traverses.
A fall here may see you going over a cliff band
so you will need crampons and an ice axe to travel
safely in this area. These snowfields may also be
an excellent sliding surface for avalanche activity
in the event we get more snow. This is always a
possibility during April and May at 5000 ft. MOUNTAINEERING
BOOTS, CRAMPONS, AND AN ICE AXE ARE NEEDED!
The John Sherburne ski trail is going fast. The
trail is open to the 1/2 way point, but will come
up to only a 1/4 way Friday morning. Signs, bamboo,
and rope will show the best crossing point to the
Tuckerman Ravine hiking trail. Don't be sucked into
the "well there's snow behind the rope" idea. You
will be skiing in mud before you can say "this isn't
so bad". We will move the signs up the hill as needed.
Please walk to Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at
Route 16. This will help keep the ski trail from
eroding and keep you out of wet mud and sloppy travel.
DO NOT SKI ON THE HIKING TRAIL, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
INJURED BY SKIERS, RIDERS, AND SLIDERS.
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 will be updated on an as needed basis
as conditions change.
Christopher Joosen, Snow Ranger
USDA Forest Service
White Mountain National Forest
(603) 466-2713 TTY (603) 466-2856