Small pockets of recently wind deposited snow have further settled after yesterday’s warm temperatures. Human triggered avalanches are unlikely, though continue to watch for unstable snow on steep terrain features. Warming temperatures today and the chance for rain will create conditions for wet-loose sluff avalanches in the new snow capable of pulling you off your feet. Be mindful of consequences. Avalanche danger is LOW.
The summer Lionhead Trail is open but the traverse at treeline is steep and can be icy. Bring crampons and an ice axe.
Surface snow will become wet from warm air temperatures and possibly rain. As snow melts, it may create a layer of wet, slushy snow which will move underfoot and possibly carry you in steep terrain. Be careful where falls have consequences. Newer snow and wind slabs will be sloppy and difficult to ski as it warms and will be worth avoiding in favor of older, gray looking snow.
Recent wind slabs are mostly unreactive and settled after 100mph wind followed by warm temperatures. Yesterday, wind slabs in open areas exposed to Friday’s wind were unreactive despite skier traffic, while skiers were able to trigger small pockets of slab that were more wind sheltered behind rock ridges. It’s worth keeping this avalanche problem in your thoughts if you encounter one of the larger slabs tucked behind steep terrain features, remembering that unlikely does not mean impossible.
Whumpfing in April? Yesterday an interesting observation was reported to snow rangers from a party of skiers ascending up the lookers right hand side of the bowl. They reported an obvious and frightening collapse of the snowpack which was both audible and visible. Typically, this whumpfing describes a collapse in the snowpack where weaker buried layers collapse under the weight of stronger upper layers. This is an obvious red flag for instabilities in the snowpack, with faceted weak snow usually the culprit. In this case, the buried weak layer that failed is most likely caused by a watercourse undermining the snowpack. The mechanism is different, but the result is the same. When we move into a spring snowpack we tend to think of stability as the snow becomes isothermic. While this is true in the sense of classic avalanche problems, there’s value in recognizing all the objective hazards created from a melting snowpack. Undermining of snow will occur where there’s moving water beneath. In some areas this is obvious, and not others. Look at the terrain above for signs of water, think about the topography and water flow, or even listen carefully for the sound of water.
The typical spring hazards emerged in recent weeks and should factor into your travel plans. New snow may bridge over some of the hazards which include:
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The Sherburne Ski Trail is unskiable low on the trail and really poor past the rope located now at crossover #7. Please plan to walk, not ski, down the Tuckerman Ravine trail from there. Cross to the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and walk down to avoid damaging the ski trail. For safety reasons, please do not ski on the Tuckerman Ravine hiking trail.
Regulations on Federal public lands supersede state mandates regarding protection from the coronavirus and it’s variants. These regulations require the use of a face mask when social distancing is not possible. Please plan to wear a mask in busy areas like the deck and courtyard at Hermit Lake and the floor of Tuckerman Ravine on a busy day.
The Harvard Cabin is now closed for the season. There is no access to the breezeway at HoJos.
Please Remember:
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.
