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Avalanche Bulletin
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  Date: Saturday, April 20, 2002
Time: 7:52 a.m.

WE ARE NOW POSTING BULLETINS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS AS CONDITIONS CHANGE SO YOU MAY NOT SEE A NEW BULLETIN EVERY DAY. WE ARE THROUGH FORECASTING FOR HUNTINGTON RAVINE FOR THE SEASON. YOU WILL NEED DO YOUR OWN STABILITY ASSESSMENT WHEN ENTERING THE AREA. THERE WILL BE A DANGER OF FALLING ICE FOR THE REST OF THE SPRING.

TUCKERMAN RAVINE HAS LOW AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely on steep snow covered open slopes and gullies. Normal
 
 
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
 
caution is advised.

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 of 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! 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 HEAD SUMMER TRAIL IS NOW OPEN. Realize the summer trail still has large 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. MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS, CRAMPONS, AND AN ICE AXE ARE NEEDED!

THE JOHN SHERBURNE SKI TRAIL IS NOW CLOSED TO ALL USE. Just because you see snow in back of the rope it is only continious for the first 200 feet. After that you are in mud most of the time. TO PREVENT EROSION TO THIS TRAIL PLEASE USE THE HIKING TRAIL BOTH FOR GOING DOWN AND COMING UP. There is no skiing or riding allowed on the Tuckerman ravine trail.

 
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.

 
Brad Ray, 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
     DANGER - FALLING ICE
 Little Headwall
     LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 The Bowl
      DANGER - FALLING ICE
 Headwall
         DANGER - FALLING ICE
 The Lip
  DANGER - FALLING ICE
 Left Gully
  DANGER - FALLING ICE
 Right Gully
      LOW AVALANCHE DANGER

HUNTINGTON RAVINE
 Escape Hatch
  LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 South Gully
   LOW AVALANCHE DANGER
 Odell's Gully
  DANGER - FALLING ICE
 Pinnacle Gully
  DANGER - FALLING ICE
 Central Gully
    DANGER - FALLING ICE
 Yale Gully
        DANGER - FALLING ICE
 Damnation Gully
         DANGER - FALLING ICE
 North Gully
       DANGER - FALLING ICE

 
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