Some favorable upslope energy has developed and will bring snow to higher terrain on Tuesday and into Tuesday night. The higher summits forecast indicates that a few inches are possible. Winds will be out of the NW between 40 and 60 mph (64 to 96 kph) with higher gusts. While this isn't a major winter storm, the details have my attention focused on the potential for unstable snow in the Ravines. The wind speeds and direction are ideal for blowing any new snow into the Ravines and the amount of new snow forecasted is enough to cause stability issues. Expect the period of highest instability to be during the day Tuesday and into Wednesday morning provided the weather forecast doesn't change over the next couple of days. The largest snowfields that currently exist are in Left Gully and above the southern part of the Headwall. These are the areas that offer the largest bed surfaces for slabs to develop on. Smaller pockets are scattered around other parts of Tuckerman as well including in the Lip. While Huntington has less snow than Tuckerman, stability issues could arise as new pockets form on top of ice in the gullies. It only takes a small area underfoot to give way to cause some dire results. Don't focus all your attention on the size of an avalanche, but on the consequences of what will happen to you. If you plan on doing some ice climbing realize ice is still thin in many areas. If you do intend to climb leave the pickets at home and bring rock gear with a focus on small protection.

Don't plan on being able to follow summer trails safely without the right equipment. Be ready for the conditions you'll face with appropriate winter gear including 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.

Avalanche courses offered in the valley this winter are now on our website, tuckerman.org.