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 THIS 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 on steep snow covered open slopes and gullies. Be increasingly

	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

cautious in steeper terrain.

The summit received 7.3 inches of heavy snow and ice pellets as of midnight lastnight. Winds have been holding from the SE through most of the precipatation with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees F. Precipatation is expected to let up briefly this morning before picking back up through tomorrow so I expect we will receive more snow in the ravine before it's all over. Summit temperatures are expected to rise to around 30 so plan for heavier snow and rain to load over the snow already on the ground. This should generate more instability in the snowpack so watch the weather closely, particularly precipatation intensity, amounts and temperatures. Up until now winds have been mostly from the ESE and SE. This hasn't loaded significant amounts of snow in the typical lee areas from the usual westerly flow, but has cross loaded some gullies. Later today winds are forecasted to shift and come out of the SW. This is closer to our usual loading pattern so you can expect more loading in Tuckerman, which has a Eastern aspect, as the day continues. 2 weeks ago we had 3 people caught in avalanches during midweek May snowfall, so be cautious. Remember, the snowpack doesn't care what month it is even though it's almost summer.

THE LIP IS CLOSED TO ALL USE DUE TO CREVASSES AND UNDERMINED SNOW. A FALL IN THIS AREA WOULD LIKELY BE TRAGIC.

THE TUCKERMAN RAVINE TRAIL THRU THE RAVINE (FROM LUNCH ROCKS TO THE JCT. WITH THE ALPINE GARDEN TRAIL) IS CLOSED TO ALL USE BECAUSE OF CREVASSES and UNDERMINED SNOW. ANY FALL ON THIS SECTION WILL LIKELY END IN ROCKS. Use the Lion Head Summer trail as an alternate route.

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!

Expect more undermined snow as we get into late spring. As water running underneath the snowpack continues to create open spaces the potential for collapasing will increase. Hopefully you won't be on the snow when it happens.

THE LION HEAD SUMMER TRAIL IS 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 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 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.

 
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

 
BACK TO THE INDEX