Snow has just begun to fall at Hermit Lake as I write this but it doesn't seem like we'll see much accumulation. Current weather forecasts lead us to believe it will have little effect on today's stability. The weather looks to remain unsettled through Friday and forecast models have been changing regularly. Snow, freezing rain and maybe even rain may fall at some point but forecasts continue to waffle as to how much of what type and exactly when. Hope for a big dump of snow to start to get us back to where we should be for the season! Summit temperatures will drop today after a week of unseasonably warm weather when a number of daily records were smashed. Winds have picked back up and are expected to blow out of the SW at 32-64kph(20-40mph) today. The past week has allowed many slopes to stabilize and turn the lingering facets into more stable rounded crystals. Where this facet layer is more deeply buried it was less effected by the sun's warmth and has persisted with little change. Due to its greater depth the weakness will need a more powerful trigger to initiate failure. This week's incoming precipitation could be just the thing if we get enough with favorable winds. The areas that are of the most concern are the Sluice, Lip and sections of the Headwall. We'll keep you posted as we get closer to Thursday when the heaviest snowfall is anticipated.

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.