9:05 a.m., Friday, December 27, 2002

   Tuckerman Ravine has Low and Considerable Avalanche Danger. Right
   Gully, the Lip, and the Headwall have Considerable avalanche danger.
   Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are
   PROBABLE. Unstable slabs PROBABLE on steep terrain. Be increasingly
   cautious in steeper terrain. Left Gully, Hillman's Highway, the Lower
   Snowfields and the Little Headwall have Low avalanche danger. Natural
   avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are
   unlikely except in isolated pockets on steep snow covered open slopes
   and gullies. Normal caution is advised.

   Huntington Ravine has Low Avalanche Danger. Natural avalanches are
   very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in
   isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised.

   As the storm that brought all of the snow to New England moved out,
   the high winds moved in. The summit winds have been out of the NW
   since yesterday morning with a peak gust of 110 mph (176 kph) and
   current winds at 70 mph (112 kph). These winds have scoured Huntington
   Ravine and the southern areas of Tuckerman Ravine while loading snow
   into the northern areas of Tuckerman Ravine. Areas of most concern in
   Tuckerman are the Sluice and Lip. As you move south toward the Chute,
   the snow should be more stable as it has been hammered by the wind
   into a harder slab. In areas posted at Low, realize that isolated
   pockets of instablity do exist so stay on old surface when possible.
   Some of these pockets may be found in unusual areas such as very low
   in Huntington Ravine, so use caution on the approach to climbs. We did
   have natural avalanche activity yesterday. This morning a fracture
   line is visible under the ice in center headwall and it is filling in
   fast. We think that parts of the fracture line have already filled in
   so this may have been a large avalanche. It is likely that avalanche
   activity in other areas occured, however, due to the wind loading the
   evidence has been erased.

   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 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 A 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.
   However, waterbars, rocks, brush and patches of water ice are hiding
   just under the new snow.

   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