Date: Saturday, April 6, 2002
Time: 9:22 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 ON STEEP SNOW COVERED OPEN SLOPES
AND GULLIES. Normal caution is advised. THESE POCKETS
ABSOLUTELY EXIST SO KEEP YOUR AVALANCHE EYES OPEN!
LOW DOES NOT MEAN NONE!! SEEK OUT A USFS SNOWRANGER,
MOUNT WASHINGTON VOLUNTEER SKI PATROLER, OR AN AMC
TUCKERMAN CARETAKER FOR MORE AVALANCHE INFORMATION
FOR SPECIFIC AREAS.
The summit received 1.4 inches (3.5cm) of snow in
the past 24 hours with light to moderate winds from
the northwest. These winds have loaded some areas
causing varying conditions through out the Ravines.
There is a mix of old surface, soft slab and hard
slab. The crown line from this weeks avalanche in
the bowl has been covered indicating that new snow
has filled in this area. We went into the Tuckerman
yesterday to dig snowpits and take pictures for
our website. I will put them on our site this morning
so check out the new pictures later today for both
Tuckerman and Huntington Ravine.
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.
MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS, CRAMPONS (not step ins or
sidewalk ice knubs), AND AN ICE AXE ARE NEEDED!!
The John Sherburne ski trail has good cover with
the thinner snow near the bottom. Expect hard pack
conditions unless we get warmer weather. Watch for
rocks poking through the snow as melting continues.
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