Well it's winter now!! Snowdrifts, high winds, -18F, loading snow, avalanches, ahhhh....winter. This last 14" (36cm) storm of 6.8% snow is being loaded as easy as down feathers. Huntington was still dominated by blowing snow with low visibility first thing this morning while Tuckerman gave some impressive views. Hillman's ran again filling up the dogleg corner. Left Gully likely ran as well and is beginning to look enormous. The biggest news is the loading of S and SE facing aspects from the N through NW winds. The climber's right side of the Bowl, the Lip, Sluice, Right Gully, and the Lobster Claw have all grown rapidly and continue to do so this morning as moving snow continues to load under blue skies. The "most interesting" award goes to the growth of snow fields from Lion Head down to the Winter Route at treeline. These have made a huge jump forward filling in and some fracture lines are visible in atypical places. We are going to take a closer look at how the Winter Lion Head Route and the snowfields above it were affected later this morning.

Okay, now to the danger ratings. Loading has backed off, but does continue as of 8am. This predominately affects slopes in the lee of NW winds. As the winds die through the day we will move away from the likelihood of natural activity and may be in a Considerable rating in many locations by dark. With this said there are substantial new slabs that have been loaded under very cold conditions. These temperatures have brought settling, consolidation, and sintering of crystals to a crawl. It is always a good idea to give cold winter storms and the slabs they bring a little time to get used to being around. The mountain is off to one of the best winter starts I can remember. This is creating beds surfaces all over the hillside so you need to be savvy to the development of slabs in nontraditional locations.

The John Sherburne Ski Trail is open with plenty of new snow. Expect drifting and variable 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.