Huntington Ravine has LOW avalanche danger. Natural avalanches are very unlikely and human triggered avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets. Normal caution is advised.

Looking around the Bowl this morning, things look just as they did on Wednesday before we lost visibility yesterday. The Lip and Sluice remain the areas of greatest concern. Due to their aspects being strongly sheltered from NW winds, these locations have smooth, pillow-like slabs with less wind effect than the snow in other areas of the Ravine. As tempting as it may be to get out onto these slabs, be aware that this area would be your best bet for human triggered avalanche activity. As you move away from these areas, you transition from Considerable to Moderate. In the Headwall there is a great deal of spatial variability. Each step may land on anything from styrofoam-stiff hard slab to softer areas where your boots penetrate effortlessly. On the harder slabs it would be more difficult, although not impossible, for your impact to reach a weak layer. The softer snow doesn't provide as much strength, and your impact can go deeper. Right Gully has a slightly different story. A fracture line is evident high in the gully on the climber's left side, but the slabs in the middle of the gully didn't go anywhere. In both the Headwall and Right Gully, strong route finding and stability assessment skills are keys to negotiating this terrain. After having avalanched, Hillman's and Left Gully both received a thorough beating by the strong winds, leaving very stiff surface conditions and scoured old debris. Stability concerns on these hard surfaces are minimal, but there may still be isolated pockets lingering in the strongly sheltered areas. A very similar effect has taken place in Huntington. The strong winds have scoured the new snow out of the gullies. The snow surface in Huntington is best described as hard and wind-hammered. Similar to Tucks, be watchful for lingering pockets of instability.

After a few days of bitter cold, we're now moving into a warming trend for the weekend, with some clouds and precipitation arriving Saturday afternoon and night. Usually, I'd appreciate the more tolerable temperatures, but I'm just not ready to see precipitation in anything but a frozen state. I can't even bring myself to use the dreaded "R-word." We don't yet have a definitive idea of what exactly this small system will do for us here. We may see all snow, snow then rain, or a mix of rain, sleet, and snow. Elevation will have a strong role in determining how it plays out. We do know there isn't a lot of moisture in the system, with about 0.5" (1.25cm)or less being forecasted. Check back later today to our Weekend Update section for more information on how this will affect stability this weekend.

The Lion Head Winter Route is open. This is a steep and challenging route. Crampons, an ice axe, and the ability to properly use this equipment are necessary for safe travel on this route. The John Sherburne Ski Trail is open with top to bottom coverage.