All forecasted areas of Huntington Ravine have Low avalanche danger today. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised.

It's always interesting how much of an effect the winds here can have. Yesterday's advisory stated, "As the winds increase I think that we will see additional wind loading occur which may affect stability late in the day." This indeed was the case as winds increased late in the day, and we arrived this morning to find a fracture line about 3/4 of the way up the Chute. This isn't surprising as our field work yesterday morning showed very sensitive surface slabs with thickness ranging from 1-5 inches (2.5-13cm). These thin slabs were popping out simply from cutting the back of a column of snow; no compression test was needed for it to release. The increased winds later in the day have added a small amount of new snow in a slightly stronger layer to the top of the surface layer observed yesterday. While the primary concern is newly deposited snow, we have lingering concerns about the stability of harder slabs from the storm last Wednesday. The force of a smaller avalanche could be large enough in some places to step down to a weak layer deeper down.

Although our observations showed instabilities in several places, the areas they are found are relatively small. We are most concerned today with those areas that have been loaded by west and northwest winds. In particular, we believe the Lip warrants a Considerable rating due the probability of a climber or skier triggering a slide. Around the Headwall and Bowl area, these concerns are not quite as pronounced, but they are there. This is evidenced by what we see today in the Chute. This is "bulls-eye" data that instabilities exist. Other areas of the ravine have more variable conditions.The areas posted at Low do have isolated pockets in the wind loaded areas. Careful route finding is important to avoid entering these areas. Try to stay out of the lee areas and on older, harder surfaces.

Huntington Ravine has been scoured down to Low danger by last night's winds, which reached a peak gust of 95mph (153kph). You'll find a mix of surface conditions including old surface and new wind slabs. As in Tuckerman, avoiding the wind slabs and staying on older, harder surfaces will be your best bet for safe travel.

The Lion Head Summer Trail is still open. The Summer Trail crosses an avalanche prone slope that is still developing. We are keeping a close eye on this slope, but as always, safe travel techniques dictate traveling across this and other such slopes one at a time.