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Avalanche Bulletin
Current Bulletin Danger Scale Locations Safety Meet Your Rangers
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  Date: Sunday, March 17, 2002
Time: 7:56 a.m.

TUCKERMAN AND HUNTINGTON RAVINES HAVE LOW AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised.

The forecast is calling for sunny skies, the second best thing to getting more snow! The surface should be very slick today so be prepared with crampons, an ice axe, and mountaineering skill. A slip and fall on a slick slope could produce grave consequences as rocks are in most runout areas. Climbers, hikers, skiers, and riders need to be prepared to use their mountaineering skills and have all the right equipment.

We seem to be heading into spring quickly so start watching for the usual warm weather hazards. One example, but not limited to, is the Little Headwall which has begun undermining.

ICE DAMS produced some close calls for climbers yesterday, this should be one of the primary hazards for ice climbers in the Ravines. Be cautious for hydrolic pressure and ice dams in commonly found areas such as over the top of bulges and steep colums.

THE LION'S HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. However it is deteriorating quickly due to poor snow coverage and warm weather. Please stay on route to minimize climber impacts to the area. This is critical to keeping the trail open and protecting the resource. 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 full coverage but is quite thin, and watch for ice flows, emerging rocks, and changing conditions.

 
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.

 
Christopher Joosen, Snow Ranger
USDA Forest Service
White Mountain National Forest
(603) 466-2713 TTY (603) 466-2856

TUCKERMAN RAVINE
 Hillman's Highway
LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Lower Snowfields
        LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Little Headwall
    LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 The Bowl
LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Headwall
         LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 The Lip
       LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Left Gully
LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Right Gully
          LOW AVALANCHE DANGER

HUNTINGTON RAVINE
 Escape Hatch
      LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 South Gully
          LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Odell's Gully
      LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Pinnacle Gully
   LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Central Gully
    LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Yale Gully
   LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Damnation Gully
   LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 North Gully
         LOW AVALANCHE DANGER

 
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