Tuckerman Ravine has LOW, MODERATE and CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger today. The Little Headwall has LOW avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised. The Lower Snowfields, Hillman's Highway, Left Gully, and Right Gully have MODERATE avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are unlikely and human triggered avalanches are POSSIBLE. Unstable slabs are possible in steep terrain. Use caution in steeper terrain. The Bowl, the Headwall, the Lip, and over into the Sluice have CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are probable. Unstable slabs are probable on steep terrain. Be increasingly cautious in steeper terrain.

Huntington Ravine has LOW avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely EXCEPT IN ISOLATED POCKETS. THESE POCKETS DO EXIST. Normal caution is advised.

We have an interesting snowpack developing which is quite ironic considering we have been discussing direct and indirect action avalanche issues over the past week. We are slowly heading towards some western style faceting problems due to the long stretch of cold weather over the past week. The summit has only been above 0 degrees F for a few hours since the 10th of January. We had a low here at Hermit Lake of -16 F last night with temperatures in the northern valleys dropping significantly lower. A flow of cold air should persist through the week with a brief repreive early in the week before the cold returns. These temperatures have caused, and should continue to cause, significant temperature gradients in the snowpack particularly in thinly covered areas. Pockets of brush, rocks, and areas scoured by winds are being influenced most dramatically by the facet growth. Yesterday we found very inconsistant results with stability tests due mostly to the depth of new facet growth. Most of the facet growth is occuring above the most recent old ice layer in higher avalanche terrain. Obviously the deeper the facets the more tensile strength dominates and the less your "impact bulb" will effect this weak layer. Basically, the thicker the slab the more the slab will dissipate your weight on the weaknesses beneath. Pockets high in the Right gully and the Sluice had 3-4 cm of 1mm facets beneath 30 to 60 cm of hard slab. Although currently these facets are small, I except them to change rapidly with the consistant high temperature gradients. Some pockets near rock fields and brush have facets from the surface down 30 cms! Keep all this in mind with some new snow coming tomorrow and Monday. These pockets of deep facets could become buried and be the "sweet spots" for triggering an avalanche. We currently have a tremendous degree of spatial varibility with stability potentially changing several times within a fifty meter area. Even with no new snow the instability may increase if facet growth continues. If the forecast holds, avalanche courses may have some very interesting things to look at in their snow pits. So... If you are heading into avalanche terrain today be aware that a variety of snow conditions still exist. Realize that avalanche skills are required to travel safely through any avalanche terrain. Areas of most concern, but not exclusively, are on the northern side of Tuckerman such as the Lip and the Sluice. The more you move toward the South in the Ravine the more stable the snow. The areas that are posted Considerable are on the low end of the spectrum. However, we feel that if an avalanche is triggered it could be large due to the elasticity of the slab and the facets that exist.

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. Avalanche skills are always required to travel safely in the mountains. Be prepared to do your own stability assessments.

The John Sherburne ski trail is improving with reasonable coverage. However, be aware that there are still a few problem waterbars and rocks hidden just under the surface.

United States Avalanche Danger Descriptions. t´\´]