Avalanche Advisory for Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines

Posted: 11:04 a.m., Friday, November 28, 2003

This is an early season GENERAL ADVISORY. Use of the 5 scale avalanche danger rating system will begin when conditions warrant. Until then new advisories will be issued as needed. Realize avalanches may occur even though we are only issuing a General Advisory. This is due to the isolated nature of snow pockets and their associated instabilities. Remember if the snowfield is large enough to ski or recreate on it's large enough to avalanche. Check "tuckerman.org" for the latest avalanche advisory before heading into avalanche terrain.

Colder air on Tuesday and Wednesday nights saw temperatures drop to -6 C (22 F) and -7 C (19 F) respectively here at Hermit Lake. This was cold enough to generate a little ice in the Ravines but day time highs over the past 3 days between 4 C (38 F) and 9 C (48 F) melted gains almost as quickly as it developed. As of 10:00 Friday morning the Hermit Lake temperature was 3.5 C (37 F) and increasing. The forecasted rain for Friday through the overnight should once again either melt existing Ravine ice or send it down the cliffs to the floor. We may see around 2.5 cm (1 inch) of liquid precipitation before the change over in the mountains on Saturday. A series of rapid moving weather disturbances should touch off snow showers on and off for the weekend with 5 to 8 cm (2-3 inches) of snow expected. Currently I expect this General Advisory to ride through the weekend with the next advisory issued on Monday.

BE AWARE OF FALLING ICE IN THE RAVINES. ONCE AGAIN I WOULD URGE ICE CLIMBERS TO BE PATIENT. WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP CONSISTENTLY THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF ICE TO CLIMB. Many visitors have been injured and killed by falling ice so pay attention to where you are and don't linger when under ice. Have a plan in mind about what you will do and where you will go if ice comes down. Station yourself near a large rock to duck behind in the event of ice fall. Be ice smart.

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.

The best holiday gift you can give your backcountry loved one to express care 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. THEY JUST MAY BE THE GIFT OF LIFE.

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 reading mountain weather's effect on the snowpack, and avalanche rescue.

Please Remember:

•	Any new precipitation may increase the avalanche danger, this includes wind transported snow.
•	Obtain latest weather forecast before starting out.
•	For more information, contact the U.S. Forest Service Snow Rangers: AMC at Pinkham Notch Visitor Center or Hermit Lake Shelters.
•	This avalanche bulletin will be updated as needed.

Christopher Joosen, Snow Ranger
USDA Forest Service
White Mountain National Forest
(603) 466-2713 TTY (603) 466-2856

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This is the Official Tuckerman Ravine website. Occasionally the remoteness of Tuckerman Ravine, weather, or communication problems prevent the website from being updated immediately. Check the date, and if it is not the most recent, you can also call the National Forest Service's 24 hour avalanche hotline at (603) 466-2713 (ext. 4)

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