Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2002
Time: 9:13 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.
With the warm temperatures today and occasional
rain the snow will be headed downhill at a rapid
(slow?) pace. This means the snow is creeping downhill
(as it does all winter) more rapidly thus causing
crevasses to open as the snow seperates from the
rocks above. Some of these crevasses
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WARNING
ICE FALL DANGER
MASSIVE BLOCKS OF ICE THE
SIZE OF AUTOMOBILES
TRAVEL AT HIGH SPEEDS,
HIT ROCKS, AND SEND DEADLY
SHRAPNEL IN ALL DIRECTIONS
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BE ALERT - BE AWARE
BE ICE SMART
WHITE MOUNTAIN National Forest |
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can be up to
80 feet deep and a fall into one, well, it would
not be pleasant for you or the recovery team. So,
walk up what you plan on coming down to avoid any
surprises. The Cutler river flows over the headwall
year round and this is the most dangerous time to
be in the area of the waterfall, so if you don't
know where that is, ask someone up here who does.
This hole is currently covered with who knows how
much snow. If you are on it, it could collapse and
you would have a long fall to rocks below.
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.
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. 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.
Brad Ray, Snow Ranger
USDA Forest Service
White Mountain National Forest
(603) 466-2713 TTY (603) 466-2856