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 THIS 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 on steep snow covered open slopes and gullies. Be increasingly

	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

cautious in steeper terrain.

The summit received another 4.2 inches of snow as of midnight last night. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL FOR THE PAST 2 DAYS TO APPROXIMATELY 11.5 INCHES OF SNOW AND ICE PELLETS. Winds have shifted to come out of the WNW as expected and have held there since late last night. They are forecasted to remain out of the W and WNW today and increase to 40-70. These winds are ideal for loading a considerable amount of snow into Tuckerman and nearby areas today such as the Lion Head summer trail traverses. Snow showers are expected to be on and off over the next two days so expect the possiblility for an increasing avalanche danger. Two weeks ago we had 3 people caught in avalanches during a midweek May snowfall, so be cautious. Remember, the snowpack doesn't care what month it is even though it's almost summer.

THE LIP IS CLOSED TO ALL USE DUE TO CREVASSES AND UNDERMINED SNOW. A FALL IN THIS AREA WOULD LIKELY BE TRAGIC.

THE TUCKERMAN RAVINE TRAIL THRU THE RAVINE (FROM LUNCH ROCKS TO THE JCT. WITH THE ALPINE GARDEN TRAIL) IS CLOSED TO ALL USE BECAUSE OF CREVASSES and UNDERMINED SNOW. ANY FALL ON THIS SECTION WILL LIKELY END IN ROCKS. Use the Lion Head Summer trail as an alternate route.

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!

Expect more undermined snow as we get into late spring. As water running underneath the snowpack continues to create open spaces the potential for collapasing will increase. Hopefully you won't be on the snow when it happens.

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. 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.

 
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