7:12 a.m., Friday, November 29, 2002

   This is a U.S. 5 Scale Danger Rating avalanche bulletin for Tuckerman
   and Huntington Ravines. We will likely go back and forth between
   General Advisories and 5 scale ratings until we need to go to a daily
   bulletin. If a 5 scale bulletin is issued it expires at midnight on
   the day of issue and you can expect another bulletin the following
   morning. When a General Advisory is posted another bulletin may or may
   not be issued the following day depending on conditions. Climbers
   heading into Huntington should check the avalanche bulletin before
   leaving Pinkham Notch or Hermit Lake each morning. Until the Harvard
   Cabin opens on December 1st the avalanche bulletin will not be posted
   there due to no campers being there overnight.

   TUCKERMAN AND HUNTINGTON RAVINES CURRENTLY HAVE MODERATE AVALANCHE
   DANGER. Natural avalanches are unlikely and human triggered avalanches
   are possible on steep snow covered open slopes and gullies. Be
   cautious in steep terrain. The summit has received under an inch of
   new snow over the past 24 hours with very cold temperatures matching
   the all time low for Thanksgiving of -14 degrees F. NW winds and very
   light snow have made for ideal conditions for new loading on SE and E
   aspects and the cross loading of others. With even a couple inches of
   snow significant slabs can form when ideal densities and winds exist.
   In addition snow is being deposited on an ice crust that high winds
   swept clean in some locations during last weekends storm. Take this
   into account when determining stability with any new snow over the
   next several days. New snow falling on an ice crust won't bond nearly
   as well as those with snow deposits without a crust. This may cause
   over confident stability assessments if they are done in areas on new
   snow verses the ice crust. This spatial variability will be something
   to keep on the forefront of decision making over the next week. You
   may find pockets of instability on the high Moderate end approaching
   Considerable particularly in strong lee areas of NW and W winds. New
   loading into tomorrow may push some pockets to Considerable so keep an
   eye on the weather and its' effect on snow stability through the
   weekend. Snow showers are in the National Weather Service forecast for
   the next 8 days! We are expecting snow showers today and this evening
   with 2-5 inches possible into the beginning of the weekend. Expect an
   elevated avalanche danger over Saturday and Sunday. I expect either a
   Moderate or perhaps Considerable rating to prevail. So watch for new
   bulletins discussing any change in the daily rating. Remember if the
   snowfield is large enough to ski, climb, or recreate on it's large
   enough to avalanche.

   AS ALWAYS, THIS ADVISORY IS ONE MORE TOOL TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR OWN
   DECISIONS IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN. It should be used along with your own
   snow stability assessments, knowledge of safe travel techniques, skill
   in mountain weather's effect on the snowpack, and avalanche rescue.

   Pull out your beacon, probe, and shovel and practice, pracTICE!,
   PRACTICE!!, PRACTICE!!! ONLY YOU CAN SAVE YOUR PARTNER!! Sign up for
   an avalanche course. 

   PLEASE REMEMBER:

   o Any new precipitation may increase the avalanche danger, this
   includes wind transported snow.

   o Obtain latest weather forecast before starting out.

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

   o This avalanche bulletin will expire at midnight.

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