WE ARE NOW POSTING BULLETINS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS AS CONDITIONS CHANGE SO YOU MAY NOT SEE A NEW BULLETIN EVERY DAY.

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.

Warm weather in the 70's are forecasted for the week so expect conditions to deteriorate rapidly. Be prepared for an increased hazard of undermined snow, crevasses, and

	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

FALLING ICE. There are 10 new pictures on Tuckerman.org that were put on Sunday evening. These photos show our current snow coverage as of 4/14 and SOME of the hazards in the Ravine.

The Little Headwall is now a raging torrent and the waterfall on the Lip is wide open and roughly 50 feet across. Stay clear of these and the other crevasses forming on the Ravine. These can become very deep with a couple plunging 80 feet. Falling into some these would be very unfortunate resulting in a high liklihood for grim consequences. The rain has also undermined many areas around both Ravines so be prepared for collapsing snow with open holes and running water under you. Walking down the Tuckerman Ravine trail is now the only alternative to get from the Bowl to the Hermit Lake area. When leaving the Bowl PLEASE take off your skis to walk 40 yards rather than ski over fragile alpine vegetation. Many of those little trees are over 100 years old. Remember,CLIMB UP WHAT YOU PLAN ON COMING DOWN TO AVOID ANY SURPRISES

BE AWARE OF FALLING ICE! With continued 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 WILL BE CHANGING BACK OVER TO THE SUMMER TRAIL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. CHECK IN AT PINKHAM BEFORE HEADING UP TO SEE IF THE CHANGE HAS OCCURED. IF IN DOUBT JUST WATCH THE SIGNS. WE WILL BE TAKING DOWN THE ORANGE WINTER SIGNS AND INSTALLING THE WHITE SUMMER SIGNS WHEN THE SWITCH OVER OCCURS. Realize the summer trail still has steep snow traverses. A fall here may see you going over a cliff band so you will need crampons and an ice axe to travel safely in this area. These snowfields may also be an excellent sliding surface for avalanche activity in the event we get more snow. This is always a possibility during April and May at 5000 ft. Until the switch occurs 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 is going fast. As of Monday morning you can barely get down 75% of the way. Signs,bamboo, and rope will show the best crossing point to the Tuckerman Ravine hiking trail. Don't be sucked into the "well there's snow behind the rope" idea. You will be skiing in mud before you can say "this isn't so bad". We will move the signs up the hill as needed. Please walk the short distance to Pinkham. This will help keep the ski trail from eroding and keep you out of wet mud and sloppy travel. DO NOT SKI ON THE HIKING TRAIL, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED BY SKIERS, RIDERS, AND SLIDERS.

 
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 will be updated on an as needed basis as conditions change.

 
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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