Another interesting and wet week is upon us. We will see a brief period of snow and sleet up high before warmer air pushes into the region generating rain through the higher elevations. This warm moist period will last into the beginning of the weekend when models are forecasting air moving back to seasonal temperatures. We are expecting to be into the single numbers on the summit this Sunday and into the start of the workweek. So...we will continue to post a new General Advisory at least once every three days, but for the foreseeable future we will not have much to discuss as far as avalanches are concerned.

The hazard of new ice forming and falling in warm weather will be the number one concern to watch this week. Many folks have been injured and killed by falling ice so pay attention to where you are, and don't linger under ice. Have a plan in mind concerning what you will do and where you will go if ice comes down. Until colder temperatures move in we still won't see conducive conditions for ice climbing in the Ravines. If you are anxious to get out climbing early season ice, my advice is to be patient.

The calendar shows we are in early winter even though the mountain is a bit barren. However be ready for winter to come in like a freight train. Don't plan on being able to follow summer trails safely. Be ready for the conditions you'll face with appropriate winter gear, i.e. winter clothes, ice axe, crampons, avalanche beacons, shovels, and probes. Don't wait any longer to refresh your avalanche skills. Pull out your beacon, install some fresh high quality alkaline batteries, and practice. Review your safe travel rules, techniques for assessing snow stability, and sign up for an avalanche course. We will soon have all the avalanche courses offered in the valley this winter on our website, tuckerman.org.