I'm unsure of what I'm most thankful for this holiday season. It might be the fact that I have about 330 more days before I hear Jingle Bell Rock on the radio, but more likely it's how well the mountain withstood the Sunday's downpour. In general, it's been a quiet time up here since everything froze in place following the rain. Today's weather will be remarkable mild, as far as winter in the Presidential Range goes. We'll have clear skies and calm winds for the better part of the day. As Brian noted yesterday, the Summit has recorded a bit of new snow, which has been blown into strong lee areas. While in most locations this is just a thin veneer of snow, if you find yourself in deeper pockets your avalanche alarms should have its bells and buzzers sounding off. The most likely place to find this is in the Lip. I don't want to overstate the hazard-it is what we would consider an "isolated pocket", which fits the definition of Low-but it is one place to watch out for. As for climbing anywhere on Mt. Washington today, crampons and an ice axe are essential equipment. A sliding fall on angled terrain would result in a quick battle between gravity and your self-arrest skills. You'll need to arrest the fall quite quickly, before you have a chance to accelerate. In Huntington the potential still remains for ice dams to release under the impact of an axe, kick of a crampon, or placement of a screw. This hazard diminishes with time as the water pressure is naturally relieved. So while the likelihood of this happening is on the decline, it's still worth paying attention to.

We've been trying to get a handle on the weather that will be coming up in the next several days. The best we can gather is that there are a few fast moving systems heading our way. Weather models are in disagreement, and it seems as though even our most reliable sources are left guessing at which model's predictions will actually play out. We do have the potential for more new snow in upcoming days, although timing, quantities, and even (gulp) precipitation types are uncertain. If you're planning a trip for the between-holidays time, be prepared for anything, pay attention to the weather, and stay flexible in your plans.

The John Sherburne Ski Trail is open with continuous snow from top to bottom. Expect hard icy conditions. THE LION HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. This is a steep and challenging route for mountaineers. Crampons, an ice axe and the ability to properly use this equipment are recommended for safe travel on this route.