6:17 a.m., Monday, November 25, 2002

   This is a U.S. 5 Scale Danger Rating Avalanche Advisory 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 have MODERATE avalanche danger today.
   Natural avalanches are unlikley and human triggered avalanches are
   possible on steep snow covered open slopes and gullies. Be cautious in
   steep terrain. Areas of most concern are those that already had
   significant existing snowfields before this weekends snow. These
   gullies and pockets offer new snow a bed surface to avalanche on
   compared to brush or rock dominated areas. The largest areas are still
   in Tuckerman Ravine. Left Gully, the Chute, and areas North towards
   the Sluice do have sizeable snowfields. Isolated areas in the
   Huntington Gullies also offer good potential bed surfaces. Remember if
   the snowfield is large enough to ski 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. We have all the avalanche courses offered in the
   valley this winter on our website, csac.org.

   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