While many folks have considered this storm to be over, we are still in a direct action avalanche situation on Mt. Washington. Even though the heavy snow stopped, the high winds continue to move the snow around at an impressive rate. The Summit has recorded blowing snow for the past 38 hours. Since 6 am yesterday the Summit has picked up another 6.8 cm (2.7"). This is in addition to the 60 cm (24") we recorded at Hermit Lake yesterday morning. We suspect that we have had numerous avalanches in both Ravines and that the gullies and snowfields just keep filling in with new slabs. While we were traveling low on the mountain yesterday, we were amazed at how quickly our tracks would fill in and how drifts would pile up immediately after we knocked them down. Today's higher summits forecast is calling for snow showers with continued NW winds 95 to 130 kph (60 to 80 mph) this morning and then shifting to the west and decreasing to 65 to 95 kph (40 to 60 mph) this afternoon. These high winds will continue to load and cross-load all forecast areas in Tuckerman and Huntington Ravine today. We expect more natural avalanche activity to occur before the winds calm down and give the slopes a chance to adjust to their new load. In short, today is not a good day to play in avalanche terrain!

Avalanches are not the only concern to mountain travelers today. Those venturing above treeline will have to endure cold temperature with wind chills around -40 c/f and very low visibility with periods of white out conditions. BE PREPARED!

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 will likely be slow going until enough brave souls sweat some tracks into it.

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.