Presidential Range

You’ll find a mix of old, hard snow and some fresh wind slabs at middle and upper elevations today. The new snowfall was limited to the northern and western parts of the Presidential Range with wind slabs found in locations sheltered from the scouring northwest wind. Wind slabs are also likely to be found in eastern ravines such as Tucks and Huntington but on a smaller scale. In those ravines and other mostly scoured locations, a long sliding fall hazard persists due to the icy snowpack. Assess slopes carefully not only for reactive wind slabs but for ice just beneath the new snow. Avalanche danger is MODERATE today in the wind loaded areas where the slabs could be reactive to human-triggering. Older, gray looking snow is stable but firm and potentially icy.

Falling ice continues to be a problem and occurred naturally yesterday despite the cold air temperatures. Limit your time on slopes beneath frozen waterfalls to avoid this hazard.    

The lower half of Sherburne ski trail is mostly rocks and mud and is now CLOSED at the rope, currently located across the trail at crossover 5. Please help preserve early and late season skiing by removing your skis and walking down the Tucks trail from there.

The risks associated with taking a long sliding fall are a very real concern despite the new snow and potential for some softening today. Yesterday the snow was edgeable in most places even after the very cold night prior. It seems the dense snowpack retained the warmth of the previous several days. Unfortunately, patches of ice made this firm but edgeable surface variable. A party of experienced skiers made all the right calls given a fairly bold decision to try to ski South Gully in Huntington Ravine yesterday. The group climbed their intended line and wisely decided to turn around when the snow became too firm for easy booting in crampons. The first skier, who has logged 70 days in the backcountry this season, dropped in and made a number of good turns before losing an edge. The ensuing tumble and slide led over a small buttress before a high speed collision with a tree and a broken femur. The party was well equipped with a solid start on performing a self rescue before snow rangers arrived. Thanks to all in the party for their help in the roped litter lowers and carry out, and special thanks to Owen and his partner for giving up their climb to help this crew. This fall is a good reminder that variable conditions can led the best skier to take a long sliding fall that ends in injury in consequential terrain.

The snowpack at all elevations has changed dramatically over the past week due to several days with warm temperatures and rain followed by unseasonably cold weather.

• The lower half of Sherburne ski trail is mostly mud and rocks. A rope across the ski trail at crossover #5 signals the closed trail below. Cross over and walk down the Tuckerman Ravine trail at this point. 
• The ski trail to the Gulf of Slides is likely to be mostly bare and muddy for the first mile near Pinkham, including a few stream crossings. 
• Increased streamflow from rain and melting snow last week has undermined snow and weakened snow bridges over stream beds. 
• The waterfall holes and moats near rocks are large enough to fall into in the Headwall area of Tuckerman Ravine. The main waterfall hole and the “Open Book” ice climb hole below are both over 75’ deep. 
• Rotten snow off trail can be knee to hip deep. 
• The Little Headwall has melted and turned back into a waterfall with open water upstream. The safest way down from Tuckerman Ravine is hiking down the Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Hermit Lake.

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Your avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations are extremely valuable to the forecasters at MWAC. Help create a more accurate avalanche forecast by submitting your observations here. 

 

Listen to the weekly MWAC Outreach Podcast provided by Ski The Whites. Discussions include snowpack information, weekend outlook, and general avalanche related info. 

 

The Harvard Cabin is open for camping only with no entry allowed inside the cabin. There is no access to the breezeway at HoJos.

Please Remember:

• Safe travel in avalanche terrain requires training and experience. This forecast is just one tool to help you make your own decisions in avalanche terrain. You control your own risk by choosing where, when, and how you travel.
• Avalanche danger may change when actual weather differs from the higher summits forecast.

For more information contact the US Forest Service Snow Rangers, AMC visitor services staff at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, or the caretakers at Hermit Lake Shelters or seasonally at the Harvard Cabin (generally December 1 through March 31). The Mount Washington Ski Patrol is also available on spring weekends.