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.

If you were on the mountain yesterday you'd think I was lying when I told you today's weather was going to be even nicer. It's true however and the forecast is calling for negligable winds and summit temperatures around 4C (40F)! As of this morning we've already broken 1938's 33F high temperature record for the date. Enjoy today's sun as precipitation in various forms is anticipated all week beginning tomorrow night. Yesterday was the first day that temps were finally able to overcome the wind and soften the surface snow on sunny southern aspects. It gave us the chance to get out and dig into our unusual snowpack all the while catching some fine rays! What we discovered was quite interesting. If you've been following our advisories for the past week or so you'd know that we've been concerned with facet layers both at the surface and buried down just above an old raincrust. It seems that in many places the near and at surface facets have made some progression toward the more stable round crystals we like to see. Sintering is taking place as crystals form bonds with their neighbors and strength increases. This is especially true in areas that receive more solar gain and allow heat to penetrate deeper into the snowpack. Areas with less solar gain such as northern aspects and slopes lower down in the ravines are receiving less sun and have not progressed as far along as other slopes. The layer of facets sandwiched between the buried old crust and the newest surface snow has not kept pace with the facets closer to the surface. Snow layers of various hardnesses cover this weak layer and temperatures have not crept deep enough to begin any type of significant stabilization. The facet layer varies significantly in its burial depth from 20cm below the surface to over 1.5m down in the middle of the Sluice. One quick way to garner some information as you travel is to periodically plunge your axe through the snow layers and notice the changes in resistence. If the axe suddenly plunges much more easily than through the layers above you should suspect you're finding the facet layer. We're tracking this lingering weakness on our radar as it is likely to be a primary factor in stability as new snow approaches this week. With the amount and type of snow above it, natural triggers such as new precipitation or large amounts of percolating water have become our primary concern although human triggered avalanches are still possible in the Lip and Sluice.

As springlike conditions have become entrenched on the mountain you should expect to see the associated hazards. Falling ice and/or rock, running water and rotten ice in the gullies are all LIKELY in these temps. Snow has gotten pretty thin in some places and may have been undermined. As the shadow line creeps back across warmed snow expect a rapid change in surface conditions. Soft snow may quickly turn bulletproof so think twice before assuming conditions are the same as they were when you ascended an hour earlier.

THE LION HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. Mountaineering skills and equipment are required on this route. Crampons and an ice axe are a must for safe travel on Mount Washington. The John Sherburne Ski Trail has reasonable coverage given the lean snow year and recent temps. You should still expect hidden hazards such as water ice and rocks.

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.