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Avalanche Bulletin
Current Bulletin Danger Scale Locations Safety Meet Your Rangers
Past Bulletins
  Date: Sunday, March 31, 2002
Time: 7:58 a.m.

TUCKERMAN RAVINE AND HUNTINGTON RAVINE HAVE LOW AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets on steep snow covered open slopes and gullies. Normal caution is advised.

Mostly sunny skies should dominate the majority of the day with clouds coming late. This weather maker should trigger some snow or rain showers into tomorrow morning. Well it seems the spring season started yesterday with skiers and riders covering most areas of the ravine and establishing boot packs in multiple locations. Some undermining has once again begun on the Little Headwall. It is not a significant hazard at this time, but use caution. Don't forget your sunscreen.

BE AWARE OF FALLING ICE! Due to it being both winter and spring up here this hazard will come and go with warm and cold temperatures. When it's warm and sunny this hazard will increase and when it's 10 degrees F and blowing at 100 mph the hazard will subside. Each year over 1000 tons of ice forms on the headwall in Tuckerman 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. 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'S HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. 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 an absolute necessity. LAST NIGHT WE RESCUED 4 INDIVIDUALS, ONE OF WHICH WAS INJURED, DUE TO THE LACK OF APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT. MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS, CRAMPONS (not step ins or sidewalk ice knubs), AND AN ICE AXE ARE NEEDED!!

The John Sherburne ski trail has variable conditions depending on the temperature. It should be hard this morning and become softer through the day.

 
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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