I'm trying to be optimistic today but our current weather is doing a wonderful job at persuading me otherwise. Rain began on the Summit early this morning and currently we're getting drenched at Hermit Lake. An inch or more of liquid is expected to soak the slopes before midnight tonight and periods of high intensity rain are expected during the daylight hours. Rain on snow is just about always a bad thing for the snowpack. We'll see weight added and bonds broken, taking us down the ugly road toward wet slab release. A variety of layers in the Ravines are susceptible to this evil predation. The uppermost and first to be effected is the layer of windslab that was created Thursday. This new snow was laid down thickest on aspects with an easterly component. In places it sits directly on a crust created the day after Christmas and fortified by a number of following weather events. In other places there are multiple layers in between the newest snow and this crust setting the stage for deep release potential. Entering the Ravines today to "try and get a look" would be a dumb idea considering visibility is nil and avalanches may run beyond where they have previously terminated this season. In addition ice will be falling from high on the Ravine walls and may be much larger and tougher than you. Even someone who gets soaked to the bone and becomes hypothermic today should be capable of exercising enough common sense to stay out of the Ravines. A better idea would be to stay in and read a book or take a short walk to look at a swollen river or raging waterfall. This afternoon's heavy rains will eventually give way to artic air and overnight snowfall. Expect a whole different set of avalanches concerns tomorrow as we'll hopefully see copious amounts of the white stuff. As the temperature drops climbers should expect "ice dams" to be a hazard on ice climbs Sunday and Monday.

If you plan on going off the beaten path, bring snowshoes. The wet snowpack is perfect for absolutely epic post-holing adventures.

THE LION HEAD WINTER ROUTE IS OPEN. Mountaineering skills and equipment are required for safe travel on this route.

The Sherburne Ski Trail is open with varying conditions. Expect bare ground, water ice, deep waterbars and typical New England goodness. It might be a good idea to wait awhile.

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.