Huntington Ravine will have MODERATE and CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger today. The Escape Hatch, Pinnacle, Yale, Damnation and North gullies have Moderate avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are unlikely and human triggered avalanches are possible. Unstable slabs are possible. Use caution in steeper terrain. South, O'Dells, and Central gullies will have Considerable avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are possible and human triggered avalanches are probable. Unstable slabs will be probable on steep terrain. Be increasingly cautious in steeper terrain.

The big factors of concern today will be increasing winds and new snow. Winds are currently out of the WSW at 95kph (60 mph), but will be moving toward the WNW through the day and increasing to 110-145kph (70-90mph) this afternoon. These high shifting winds will move any snow left from this weekend's precipitation above treeline down into the Ravines. The summit picked up 7.5 cm (3in) Saturday night with light winds. Some of this was brought into the Ravines while the rest developed a thin slab from gentle west winds. The high winds later today will break apart the encapsulating slab above treeline and move the snow on crust out of each nook and cranny. In addition new snowfall today, upwards of 7.5cm (3in), will be transported by the same shifting winds and velocity. All of this translates into an increasing avalanche danger through the day. We are not yet at the posted rating for all forecasted areas, but will be moving there by early afternoon. Any new snow will be loading on slabs that still contain elastic properties in many areas and are sitting on the crust that we have been discussing over the past week. We are still concerned about the weak bonds between these slabs and the icy surface below them. If avalanche activity occurs due to new snow it may step down to the crust because of the weak interface that currently exists.

The crust that remains exposed at the surface in different places vary tremendously in hardness. Some locations have gone through so much age hardening that self arrest will be extremely difficult if not impossible in the case of a fall. Expect all surface crust to be very hard until proven otherwise. All visitors traveling on steep terrain should be prepared with crampons and an ice axe.

THE LION HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. Mountaineering skills and equipment are required for safe travel on this route. The John Sherburne Ski Trail has improved dramatically with new snow. You should still expect hidden hazards in the form of turf, rocks, bushes and deep waterbars lurking under the new snow cover.

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. 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.