Bulletin d’avalanche

Presidential Range

Mount Washington Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Sun
Alpin
1 · Faible
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
Sans niveau
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 5 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

Recent wind slabs will warm today with snow possibly becoming wet as temperatures rise today. The largest of these new wind slabs may weaken and generate a large wet loose or possibly a slab avalanche, if triggered by a skier or rider. You can reduce your exposure to this problem by sticking to the older snow surface, which should soften in the sun, or areas with new snow that isn’t over your boot tops. Be mindful of the aspect and you should be rewarded with good skiing and reduced risks of wet avalanche types. The aspects where the recent wind slabs become warm carry the risk of human-triggered avalanches and a MODERATE danger rating. A long sliding fall hazard exists in areas which fail to soften or refreeze when clouds move in this afternoon. Bring crampons and an ice axe and have a plan to descend safely should you be confronted by these firm and icy conditions. 

The summer Lionhead Trail is open but the traverse at treeline is steep and can be icy. Bring crampons and an ice axe.

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Wet Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    Stubborn wind slabs pepper the terrain with some larger wind slabs downwind of prime fetch. These wind slabs are likely to be mostly stable to start this morning but continue to use safe travel techniques as history shows us that triggering the firm slabs that follow extreme winds is unlikely but not impossible. As these slabs warm in the sun, the firm snow will soften, possibly even wet and may carry a fracture that generates an avalanche capable of carrying and perhaps even burying a person in a terrain trap. Looker’s right fork high in Hillman’s, mid-slope in the Lip and Chute are examples of areas with these wind deposited slabs.

    The new snow was unreactive in lower angle terrain in the slope between Sluice and Right gully but a small avalan che appears to have. been triggered in the steep section of Sluice. The Lip was untested and remains a concern today, especially as it warms.

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1

    Surface snow may become wet early as the sun and reduced wind speed impact the surface. 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.

Avalanche Discussion

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. 

The high April sun works quickly on a warm snowpack such as exists at the Hermit Lake snowplot at 3750’. The snow there is -1C, 20cm down from the surface. The newly deposited snow will likely warm pretty quickly this morning considering most of the wind deposited snow sits on southeasterly aspects. Time, and human-triggers, will tell if the firm new snow can carry a crack today. Though these new slabs have had about 24 hours to settle it’s worth remembering that they are sitting on steep slopes around the prime angle, 39 degrees, for producing avalanches. The skiing is likely to be good, maybe even great in many areas but there will be a fine line between stable snow flanked by icy conditions and sloppy, perhaps unstable slabs. Bring your avalanche gear in addition to your crampons and ice axe. 

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: 

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.

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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. 

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.

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