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 LOW AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural avalanches are very unlikley and human triggered avalanches are unlikely EXCEPT IN ISOLATED POCKETS on steep snow covered open

	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

slopes and gullies. Normal caution is advised. THESE POCKETS DO EXIST SO KEEP YOUR AVALANCHE SENSES ON HIGH ALERT.

In the past 24 hours the summit received 3.9 inches of new snow and ice pellets while we picked up a bit over 2 inches here at Hermit Lake. Snow showers can be expected today so watch the weather and expect an increasing avalanche danger. Winds are expected to come out of the NW which would load SE aspects more heavily than others. Some example of this would be the top of Hillmans, Left gully, cross loading in the Chute, and the Northern side of the Ravine such as the Lip and Sluice. However these aren't the only locations unstable slabs maybe found. It is forecasted to warm up through the week so expect the related hazards to increase. Newly deposited snow may loose cohesive properties in the warm weather which would increase the likelihood of point release loose avalanches. Ice fall, undermining, and crevasses should become more of a problem through the week as well.

WE HAD A VERY CLOSE CALL SUNDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 2:10 PM. A SKIER ENTERED THE LIP FROM ABOVE, WHICH WAS CLOSED TO ALL USE DUE TO CREVASSES AND UNDERMINING. IN ADDITION, THE AREA WAS RATED AS HAVING 'MODERATE' AVALANCHE DANGER FOR THE DAY. ONCE THE SKIER ENTERED THE AREA OF UTMOST CONVEXITY HE TRIGGERED A CLASS 2 SOFT SLAB AVALANCHE. THE CROWN WAS ABOUT 80 FT (22 m) ACROSS, 12-16 INCHES (28-40 cm) DEEP, RAN ABOUT 900-1000 FT (275-325 m), AND LEFT A DEBRIS PILE ABOUT 200FT (60 m) LONG BY 70 FT (22 m) WIDE. AS WE WATCHED HIM ENTER THE AREA SHOOTING CRACKS BEGAN TO PROPAGATE IN ALL DIRECTIONS, THE SLAB HAD FAILED. WE SCREAMED 'AVALANCHE' AND BEGAN YELLING AT ABOUT A DOZEN PEOPLE IN THE RUN OUT ZONE TO GET OUT OF THERE. ALL MADE IT OUT BY THE EDGE OF THERE SKIS BUT SOME GEAR WAS BROUGHT DOWN ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE RAVINE. A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS WERE IN A COUGHING FIT FROM INHALING SNOW AEROSOL, BUT ALL WERE OK, INCLUDING THE SKIER. OFTEN PLAYING IN THE RAVINE IS NOTHING BUT FUN, BUT REALIZE THIS IS A SERIOUS PLACE WITH SIGNIFICANT HAZARDS THAT CAN CHANGE JOY TO TRAGEDY VERY QUICKLY.

THE LIP IS CLOSED TO ALL USE DUE TO CREVASSES AND UNDERMINED SNOW. 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 OR IN A CREVASSE. Lion Head Summer trail is an alternate route, but it may have an avalanche hazard. Be aware of this and make a snow stability assesment before using this area.

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 for all the new snow we have been receiving as well as the chance for 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. 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