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 CONSIDERABLE AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are probable. Be increasingly cautious in steeper terrain and be prepared for

	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

an increasing avalanche danger today.

The summit received 6.7 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours (17cm). Winds are now increasing which is starting to move snow around to the lee slopes. As this snow drifts onto the lee slopes the avalanche danger will increase. Just a couple of hours ago a large avalanche started in the center headwall as the result of a small piece of ice which fell on the snow. A small piece of falling ice (glace en chute) causes about the same stress on the snow as a skier making a turn. Winds are expected to increase to 100 miles per hour (170kph) on the summit this afternoon so expect lots of blowing and drifting snow.

THERE ARE MANY POTENTIAL REASONS FOR AVALANCHE ACTIVITY ALL OF WHICH POINT TO AN INCREASING AVALANCHE DANGER. ALTHOUGH IT IS MAY, PAY ATTENTION FOR AVALANCHE POTENTIAL IN YOUR MOUNTAIN TRAVELS. THIS INCLUDES MANY AREAS OUTSIDE OUR FORECAST AREA LIKE THE SNOW FIELD TRAVERSES ON THE LION HEAD SUMMER TRAIL. WE COULD HAVE A TOUCHY SITUATION HEADING INTO WHAT IS PREDICTED AS A DECENT WEEKEND WEATHER WISE. WHEN THE WEATHER IS GOOD, THE CROWDS WILL COME. REALIZE WE MAY VERY WELL BE IN A FULL WINTER AVALANCHE SCENARIO. REMEMBER WHEN SOMEONE HEADS UP A SLOPE IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S SAFE. IT MAY JUST MEAN THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THINK TWICE BEFORE FOLLOWING. We had three people get caught in two human triggered avalanches Wednesday. None of those involved had any avalanche equipment, Ie. beacon, probe or shovel. Up to 11 people were in the area at the time so I believe we were lucky more weren't caught. One slide ran 800 feet before settling midslope and the other ran about 600 feet stopping at the transition with the flats.

The lip area is nearing the point where it will need to be closed with the narrow snowband and the many open and some hidden crevasses. New snow is also hiding numerous holes here and around the Ravine. It is best to avoid this area. CLIMB UP WHAT YOU PLAN ON COMING DOWN TO AVOID ANY SURPRISES. PLEASE take off your skis to walk 40 yards rather than ski over fragile alpine vegetation when leaving areas like Hillmans Highway and the Lower Snowfields. Many of those little trees are over 100 years old.

BE AWARE OF FALLING ICE (GLACE EN CHUTE)! 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 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 May at 5000 ft. MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS, CRAMPONS, AND AN ICE AXE ARE NEEDED!

THE JOHN SHERBURNE SKI TRAIL IS NOW CLOSED TO ALL USE. Just because you see snow in back of the rope it is only continious for the first 200 feet. After that you are in mud most of the time. This is the truth. TO PREVENT EROSION TO THE SKI TRAIL PLEASE USE THE TUCKERMAN RAVINE TRAIL FOR HIKING BOTH UP AND DOWN FROM PINKHAM NOTCH. There is no skiing or riding allowed on the Tuckerman ravine trail.

 
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.

 
Brad Ray, 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