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
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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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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