Clearing conditions dominated the weather Sunday and Monday so we could finally see what effect late last week's storm had on the Ravines. Snow in Tuckerman was deposited in the typical locations for early season storms from the W, WNW, and NW. Snowfields in Left gully and the Chute are currently the largest in the Ravine and would make a good sized bed surface for the next snowfall. The snowfields down in the Center Bowl and the Headwall are smaller, but some are sitting on pooled deposits of graupel over blue water ice. These snowfields are used by ice climbers to link bulges of ice early each climbing season. Several of these have already been boot tracked by eager climbers Sunday afternoon, but I think variability from pocket to pocket is a concern (Spatial Varibility). Currently this is due to varying amounts of pooled graupel and the percent of the bed surface under each pocket that may be water ice compared to vegatation or irregular rock surfaces. So unstable slabs may be found, but due to starting from no snow as of last Wednesday (the 12th) they are still quite isolated. Despite of this someone ignoring all instability clues may find one of these areas.

The next precipatation event is expected to effect us Tuesday night through Wednesday. Upwards of 1.5 cm (.6 inches) of rain is expected before tapering back to a chance of showers Thursday and Friday. Although this will increase the instability of snow pockets around the Ravines it will be isolated due to the limited snow coverage. So once again you may see a rise in instability, but it will be isolated due to tremedous variability from area to area. Early season pockets can vary so much from one to another due to size of the pocket, anchors, and variety of bed surfaces (i.e. snow, water ice, grass, rock, etc.) We will wait and see how this next weather maker plays out, but currently I expect a General Advisory to run through the week.

Be aware that a small slab or sluff can be very dangerous. This is particularly true in the steep gullies and slopes of Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines for early season ice climbers. As a climber picks their way through a route they will usually cross small pockets of snow. Approach these early season snowfields with some skepticism and be conservative while on them or in their runout zones. It doesn't take much snow to knock you off your feet and depending how high you are this could be a significant problem. Placing ice or rock protection isn't a guarantee of security, but it has saved many from avalanche injuries or worse on Mount Washington.

We are absolutely in early winter in the high mountains so don't plan on being able to follow summer trails safely. Trails going through Ravines and Gulfs are buried with snow in some areas and require winter gear, i.e. winter clothes, ice axe, crampons, avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes. Review your safe travel rules, techniques for assessing snow stability, and sign up for an avalanche course. We have all the avalanche courses offered in the valley this winter on our website, tuckerman.org.

AS ALWAYS, THIS BULLETIN 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 reading mountain weather's effect on the snowpack, and avalanche rescue.

United States Avalanche Danger Descriptions.