TUCKERMAN AND HUNTINGTON RAVINES HAVE LOW AVALANCHE DANGER TODAY. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely. There may be isolated pockets of unstable slabs on steep snow covered open slopes and gullies. Normal caution is advised.

Yesterday's weather didn't pan out quite as we thought, the rain ended sooner than forecasted so we never reached the high avalanche danger we were anticipating. The water percolated into the snowpack with temperatures into the 40s. This warm water brought heat down into the snowpack. A cold front moved in early last evening bringing very cold temperatures, freezing up the free water in the snowpack. Snow showers are forecasted on and off this week. Any new snow will be sitting on top of the frozen snowpack. As you travel in the ravines you'll want to pay attention to areas of new snow.

Some small ICE DAMS and multiple water gushers were witnessed Saturday in Huntington Ravine by several climbers. With colder weather forecasted after this warm spell with rain, you should once again anticipate ice dams this week. This has been a common theme this winter due to our extreme temperature swings. There have been numerous close calls this winter so be prepared for this climbing hazard.

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 a s 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 good coverage but is pretty firm after the rain yesterday and the current cold temperatures. There are a couple of areas of water ice lower on the 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 expires today at midnight and the next avalanche bulletin will be issued tomorrow.

 
Marianne Leberman, 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

 
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