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

These isolated pockets under the Low danger areas do exist in both Ravines. Pockets of greatest concern are the soft slabs developed Friday night in strong lee areas of West winds. In locations forecasted as Low some examples are the top climbers right of Hillmans, pockets high and low in Right Gully and in Huntington's Central Gully.

Field observations yesterday once again demonstrated the variable nature of our snow pack right now. As Brian stated with utmost clarity, "the only consistency is inconsistency"! The variability can make you dizzy if you think about to hard, but of the entire list we currently have a few dominant factors. The first is a very hard slab or "windpack" that can be found in areas in Left Gully, under the Chute and most of the South side of the Bowl. This is lying over the crust we have been talking about over the past week. However in many areas the slab has enough tensile strength and thickness that the crust is much less of a concern. As you move into strong lee pockets in Tuckerman, such as high in the Chute, and in many areas on the Northern half of the Ravine we found much softer slabs that loaded in on Thursday and Friday. Some locations picked up close to a meter of new snow, much of which is on crust. We also still have older slabs sitting on crust with a weak layer of facets, graupel, and rimed stellars and plates. These slabs can be found in areas like the Sluice and still contain elastic energy to propagate fractures. The third dominant factor is a surface crust that has been kept clear by high winds. Expect to find a mix of these and don't be surprised if you travel through all of them in addition to several other less influential issues with in 25 meters. It is important to stay focused on changing stability as you move through avalanche terrain. If some of our current concerns were more widespread we would be into a more elevated rating. The variability between stable and unstable locations has generated the current rating, but expect to find unstable slabs if you are looking for them. With this said a person with avalanche skill should have limited problems finding a good route in the Ravines.

THE LION HEAD SUMMER TRAIL IS NOW CLOSED DUE TO THE AVALANCHE PRONE SLOPES JUST BELOW TREELINE. THE LION HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. Mountaineering skills and equipment are required for safe travel on this route.

The John Sherburne Ski Trail is improving with every bit of snow we receive. However, expect abrupt waterbars, lots of bushes and rocks hidden under new snow.

As always, this advisory is one more tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. It should be use 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. To improve these skills take an avalanche course. We have all the avalanche courses offered in and around the Mt. Washington Valley this winter on our website, tuckerman.org.