Tuckerman Ravine

Battling cold temperatures and high winds, we traveled across the ravine floor, under the headwall, and partway up Chicken Rock Gully. We encountered drifted snow of varying depths, from 16 inches thick to scoured surfaces. Below the ravine, snow in the trees remains generally soft (4F), whereas newly drifted snow in exposed areas is heavily wind-affected and firm (P) with no distinct density change.

Hand shear tests at multiple locations showed the new snow is well-adhered to the old surface. While moving through deeper drifts, we observed no signs of propagation. Looking up into the gullies, we saw a mix of wind-scoured old snow and expanding planar surfaces, especially on east and southeast aspects.

Sluice and Right Gully appear to contain new wind slabs. From a distance, surface texture suggests they are also heavily wind-affected and likely stubborn, though their depth and sensitivity remain unknown.