Huntington Ravine has LOW avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised.

Today's stability concerns are focused on the newer slabs that formed as a front moved out on Friday and deposited 8.5cm (3.3in) of snow. High W through NW winds loaded many areas with at least a bit of slab. The most significant loading appears to have occurred in strong lee areas of NW winds. The top of Hillman's Highway, the Chute, and the Lip picked up the most new snow. The Chute and the Lip are the main reasons for the Bowl and Headwall being at Moderate. Other areas I would mostly consider Low, but realize "Except in isolated pockets" does apply.

Two other concerns exist besides avalanches. Ice climbers need to be aware of ice dams due to the intense amount of running water caused by recent rain. Similar weather events have historically caused ice dams to blow out with climbers on them due to high pressure being released by an ice axe placement or a crampon. The outcome is rarely positive. The other concern is the very hard icy surface that exists in most places. Crampons and an ice axe are a must for safe travel on any angled terrain. With that said self arrest will be very difficult so move slow and methodically.

During our field observations yesterday we observed some common, but not recommended, travel techniques in avalanche terrain. We thought it might be a good chance for us to remind people of the basic travel rules in avalanche terrain. Traveling through suspect terrain one at a time is a standard practice we see ignored all the time. The reason you should travel one at a time is to expose only one person to a specific hazard at a time. Of course, you only send the first person across after you have done your research on the snowpack and performed your favorite stability tests. The hazards involved with traveling together in steep terrain is not limited to avalanche danger. They can include ice fall, rock fall and falling objects due to parties above you (ice, rocks, water bottles, people). Yesterday we observed 9 climbers wandering up Right Gully at once on very hard surface conditions with intermittent pockets of slab. If the top climber fell and failed to self-arrest, we would have had a scene more common in a bowling alley with people getting knocked over and starting their own out of control fall. The "herding" mentality people get into is understandable. We like to be near each other and it feels more secure. We just want to encourage you to be aware of your surroundings and the hazards that exist around you. Once you have properly assessed your situation and the conditions around you, then you can make smart travel decisions.

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 challenging due to hard icy conditions. You should expect hazards in the form of turf, rocks, bushes, water ice and deep waterbars.

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.