Mt Washington NH Avalanche Bulletin

Forest Service Advisory for Mt Washington, New Hampshire

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Avalanche Advisory for Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines

Posted: 8:44 a.m., Monday, May 25, 2009

THIS IS THE LAST ADVISORY FOR THE SEASON.

The 5 scale (low through extreme) system will be reinstated next season when needed. This GENERAL ADVISORY will be in effect in Tuckerman until complete melt out later this summer. The snow coverage that is left has settled out, been skier compacted, and has been thru multiple melt-freeze processes. However, the numerous large snowfields may make for a good sliding surface for late season snow. A June or early July snowstorm is not an unheard of occurrence on Mt. Washington. Be prepared for the possibility of new snow instability if this occurs.

Also watch for the possibility of sustained warm weather and/or heavy rain to blow out running water from beneath the snow. This has caused wet slush avalanches in the past. BE PREPARED TO DO YOUR OWN SNOW STABILITY ASSESSMENTS IF ENTERING AVALANCHE TERRAIN ON MT. WASHINGTON.

THE LIP AND THE TUCKERMAN RAVINE TRAIL THROUGH THE RAVINE FROM LUNCH ROCKS, ON THE FLOOR OF THE BOWL, TO THE JUNCTION WITH THE ALPINE GARDEN TRAIL JUST ABOVE THE HEADWALL ARE CLOSED TO ALL USE. Only this section of the trail is closed. This section is closed annually due to the magnitude of crevasses and undermining that develop in this area during the spring melt out. A fall in this area would have severe consequences. This trail section will be reopened when the tread melts out. Until then, be prepared to use an alternate route. Check in with one of the local visitor centers to determine the status of the closure before starting up. If you use motorized access to the summit of Mt. Washington it is NOT recommended that you descend any route through the Ravines. You will not be aware of the hazards below you. Many have attempted this over the years, often resulting in severe accidents.

BE AWARE OF FALLING ICE as this hazard will persist until complete melt out. The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to avoid spending time in the potential path of falling ice. If you are going to enter one of these paths, formulate a plan in advance for what you'll do when ice falls. CREVASSES AND UNDERMINED SNOW will continue to grow in size until melt out. These openings vary tremendously in size and include the many waterfalls on the Headwall. Hiking up what you plan on skiing is recommended so you can see what you're in for on the way down. This includes analyzing your run out which will become more limited as the season progresses. Skiers and climbers need to pay attention to what is below at all times and constantly evaluate the potential outcome of a fall or slide. As the water runs and melts out the snow from beneath, undermining will continue to occur, collapsing the snow above. Be extremely cautious in these areas.

We sincerely thank all the groups that helped us make it through the season successfully. We couldn't do the job without the many volunteer hours carrying injured people down the mountain and giving out good information to visitors. The Mount Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol once again put in a substantial amount of time with approximately 1850 hours of service for your safety this season! Since the Patrol began in 1938 one individual, Swampy Paris, has surpassed a full year of dedicated volunteerism with an unbelievable 497 days upon his retirement in 1984.

Currently, Kevin LaRue, John Kneriem and Roger Damon are each closing in on an entire year (365 days) of their lives volunteering in the Ravine. The Patrol is truly an exceptionally dedicated bunch of folks and we look forward to their triumphant return next March.

Thanks for a great season and well see you next winter.

JEFF, JUSTIN, BRIAN, AND CHRIS

Please Remember: o It is impossible to accurately predict natural events, such as avalanches, in every instance. This Advisory is one tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. It should be used along with safe travel techniques, snow stability assessments, an understanding of weather's effect on the snowpack, and proficiency in avalanche rescue.

o You should obtain the latest weather forecast before heading into the mountains. Anticipate a changing avalanche danger when actual weather differs from the higher summits forecast.

o For more information, contact the U.S. Forest Service Snow Rangers or the AMC at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center or Hermit Lake Shelters.

This is the last advisory for the 2008-2009 season.

Christopher Joosen, Snow Ranger USDA Forest Service White Mountain National Forest

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