8:50 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2002

   TUCKERMAN AND HUNTINGTON RAVINES HAVE LOW AVALANCHE DANGER. Natural
   avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are
   unlikely except in isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised.

   The summit temperature at 700am was 10F (-12C). This is quite a drop
   in temperature since 600pm last night when the summit temperature was
   37F (3C). This rapid and steady drop in temerature has created some
   potentially hazerdous travel conditions in the mountains. If you are
   heading into the mountains bring you crampons, ice axe and the ability
   to use them with skill. There is a thin breakable crust everywhere
   today. Last nights clear skies allowed the snow to recrystalize as it
   continued to drain of freewater. So the crust is not very strong in
   some places while in others you may find that it will support body
   weight. If you are heading into the mountains to ice climb, watch out
   for ice dams. With yesterdays rain (.83"/2.1cm) followed by freezing
   temeratures, there is a lot of water behind ice that is causing
   hydrolic pressure. These ice dams may relieve the pressure by shooting
   water out of ice screws or pushing tons of ice off once a climbers ice
   axe has disturbed the integrity of the ice. Ice climbs that have a
   higher volume of water should be more suspect of ice dams, such as
   Pinnacle Gully. Yesterdays rain also created some undermined channels
   in the snowpack. These are small streams that flow through the
   snowpack when it gets saturated with a lot of water. They can act as
   hidden traps and can be quite deep. These may be found in narrow
   gullies and at the bottoms of cliff bands where water naturally
   channels and pools, but is not limited to these areas. Lastly, snow
   showers are forecasted on and off over the next week. Since we have
   gone below freezing last night, the summit reported .4" (1 cm) of
   snow. With these forecasted snow showers and a Westerly flow we could
   see some wind slab deposited on lee aspects. Keep this in mind when
   traveling in avalanche terrain. Stay on old surface when possible.

   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.

   THE WINTER LION HEAD ROUTE IS NOW OPEN. THE ROUTE LEAVES FROM THE
   HUNTINGTON FIRE ROAD AND HAS ORANGE SIGNS STARTING ON THE TUCKERMAN
   RAVINE TRAIL AT ROUGHLY THE 1.8 MILE MARK. IT IS STEEP AND CHALLENGING
   ROUTE. CRAMPONS, AN ICE AXE, AND THE ABILITY TO USE THEM WITH SKILL
   ARE REQUIRED FOR SAFE TRAVEL.

   The John Sherburne ski trail is coming along slowly and improving.
   But, waterbars, rocks, brush and patches of water ice will challenge
   even the best skier for a safe and pleasurable trip down.

   THE BEST HOLIDAY GIFT YOU CAN GET YOUR BACKCOUNTRY LOVED ONE TO
   EXPRESS CARING AND CONCERN IS THE AVALANCHE BEACON, PROBE, AND SHOVEL.
   TOO EXPENSIVE? THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES OR SPLIT THE GIFT WITH
   ANOTHER RELATIVE OR FRIEND. YOU'LL NEVER REGRET GIVING IT, ONLY REGRET
   NOT GIVING IT.

   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.

   Brian Johnston, Snow Ranger
   USDA Forest Service
   White Mountain National Forest