Presidential Range

Undermined snow, weak snow bridges over streams, falling ice and heavy sluffing are all vying for the top spot in the list of hazards. Wet loose avalanches are the primary concern as far as avalanches go, but the other spring hazards are growing due to the continued warmth and lack of freezing weather overnight. Natural and human-triggered avalanches are unlikely to grow large but beware of deep and unsupportive snow. Approach steep slopes with caution, especially those that see little skier traffic. Wet loose snow could push you over a cliff or into a moat. Seek out shadier slopes today and you’ll likely find the best skiing. Avalanche danger today is LOW. 

Limit your time on slopes beneath frozen waterfalls to avoid falling ice. Lunch Rocks, a.k.a. Crunch Rocks, and the floor of Tucks is swept by large blocks of ice in the spring.  Both locations have been the scene of serious injuries and fatalities in the past. Limit your exposure to this low probability but high consequence 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.

Wet slab concerns over this warming spell, are mostly limited to the recent snow on the upper snowpack. Warming, wetting and freezing cycles at the end of March have likely stabilized deeper weak layers, significantly reducing our concerns for a deep wet slab. This is the season when snow rangers have to spend most of their time in Tuckerman Ravine so field time elsewhere is very limited. Northern parts of the range received much more snow in two recent upsloping events, now over a week ago, which, combined with observations of cold snow temps, creates some uncertainty around the existence of larger slabs. If they are around, they could turn wet and slide. Given the warm air temps the last few days, this seems unlikely but be sure to assess if you head that way.

Much warmer weather during this blocking pattern will keep middle and upper elevations above freezing, and until the snowpack becomes isothermal, deeper instabilities remain a possibility, however remote. Warm temperatures accelerate the typical spring hazards which include: 

• Moats and other deep melt holes 
• Waterfall holes 
• Opening streams and undermined snow 
• Glide cracks 
• Falling ice and rock

 

The snowpack at all elevations has changed dramatically over the past couple weeks due to warm temperatures and rain followed by unseasonably cold weather and then more significant melting.

• The lower half of Sherburne ski trail contains long sections of  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. 
• 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 growing 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. Smaller versions of these moat and ice cliff hazards exist in other ravines and gullies in the range so assess your line carefully.
• Rotten snow off trail can be knee to hip deep when not solidly frozen. 
• 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 now closed for the season. 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.