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 CONSIDERABLE AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are probable. Unstable slabs are possible on steep slopes. HILLMANS HIGHWAY 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

THE LOWER SNOWFIELDS HAVE MODERATE AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural avalanches are unlikely and human triggered avalanches are possible. I can see about two thirds of the way up Hillmans and all of the Lower Snowfields and although there has been a lot of drifting these areas are showing a lot of old surface. The top of Hillmans is a concern as it picks up more snow and is not visible. If you go on Hillmans, use the lower two thirds to be safe. If anyone goes higher than that, go to the side of the gully until that skier comes down. He could trigger a slide that could come down the gully. The ravine is in the fog with snow and blowing snow. Hopefully it will clear off today and give us a better idea of where the 6 inches of new snow has been deposited. The ravine is a collecter of snow with a west wind, so could have picked up a lot of new wind blown snow. Use your avalanche skills if you go into the ravine today.

The Lip is now very narrow with many crevasses in the area. It will be melting out soon so watch for this area to be closed within the next week. The Little Headwall is now a raging torrent and the waterfall on the Lip is now wide open. Stay clear of these and other deep crevasses that have formed in the Ravine. Falling into some of these would be very unfortunate resulting in a high liklihood for grim consequences. Many areas are now undermined so be prepared for collapasing snow beneath you. CLIMB UP WHAT YOU PLAN ON COMING DOWN TO AVOID ANY SURPRISES. PLEASE take off your skis to walk 40 yards rather than ski over fragile alpine vegetation when leaving areas like Hillmans Highway and the Lower Snowfields. Many of those little trees are over 100 years old.

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. This is the truth. TO PREVENT EROSION TO THE SKI TRAIL PLEASE USE THE TUCKERMAN RAVINE TRAIL FOR HIKING BOTH UP AND DOWN FROM PINKHAM NOTCH. 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
	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

 
BACK TO THE INDEX