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.

Rain showers are forecasted for today so be prepared for an increased hazard of undermined snow, crevasses, and FALLING ICE. We put a few pictures on the website Thursday afternoon. Some open holes are visible in these shots which will give you an idea where some hazards are located. I

	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 ——————————— BE ALERT - BE AWARE BE ICE SMART   WHITE MOUNTAIN National Forest

believe at this point we will need quite a bit of rain to increase the avalanche danger rating from Low. However, be prepared for the possibility of wet point release sluffing in pockets and water running under the snow to blowout areas of the snow pack. The most likely areas to blowout are on the main waterfall near the Lip and the Little Headwall, but realize this hazard exists in other locations as well.

Crevasses are beginning to form on the Headwall. These can become very deep with a couple plunging 80 feet. The Little Headwall has a very large hole from Tuesday's rain where the river is exposed. Extreme caution should be used when approaching and skiing around this area. Walking down the Tuckerman Ravine trail is a good alternative to get from the Bowl to the Hermit Lake area. This also helps preserve very old dwarfed trees called krumholtz. PLEASE take off your skis to walk 40 yards rather than ski over fragile alpine vegetation. There is undermined snow on The Lip. Stay close to climbers right as the waterfall is on the left and it may be covered with a skim coat of snow. Remember,CLIMB UP WHAT YOU PLAN ON COMING DOWN TO AVOID ANY SURPRISES

BE AWARE OF FALLING ICE! With today's rain and warm weather in the 70's predicted through the week we are absolutely in ice fall season. Each year over 1000 tons of ice forms on the headwall in Tuckerman Ravine and the gullies of Huntington 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 a 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 on the upper portions with thin snow and bare spots on the lower half. Patches of water ice are scattered from place to place for the full length of the trail. These areas are at times only visible once you are on top of them, so ski slowly to avoid dangerous surprises. As of yesterday morning skiing to Pinkham was still possible, but we did loose quite a bit of coverage in the afternoon heat. In addition, today's rain will continue to eat away at the ski trail's snow cover. So be prepared to walk any day now and please cross over to the Tuckerman Ravine hiking trail and walk the short distance to Pinkham. This will help keep the ski trail from eroding.

 
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
	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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