Presidential Range

Small pockets of wind deposited snow can be found in isolated areas, but should be easy to identify and manage. Look for smooth white new snow in contrast to grey textured old snow to find and avoid the avalanche problem today. The old snow will present a sliding fall hazard in steep terrain, especially high in the ravines where temperatures remain colder, requiring careful use of crampons and ice axe. Avalanche danger is LOW. 

The summer Lionhead Trail is open for travel. Crampons, not microspikes, and an ice axe will be needed for safe travel, especially across the steep and mostly wind scoured snowfield at treeline.

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.

Skiing below crossover 5 is likely to be just skiable, with rocks lurking beneath the surface and open areas where snow melted as it hit the warm and muddy ground. Skiing at a ski resort that allows skinning may be a safer option. Please move to the Tuckerman Ravine Trail and walk down when necessary to avoid damaging the ski trail. 

Today’s avalanche problems are limited to surface snow from Friday’s storm. The low hazard rating is based on a few factors. First, the distribution of the new snow is surprisingly limited. In eastern ravines a strong east wind scoured exposed terrain. The Hermit Lake Snow Plot, tucked in the trees, was able to collect 11 inches of snow, but open areas above were stripped of snow, leaving new snow tucked behind lee features, like the rock buttresses of upper Hillman’s and Right Gully. Observations from the west side of the range were somewhat limited due to visibility, but it appears that drifting snow was trapped into the exposed bushy ground vegetation. 

Second, new wind slabs are largely unreactive thanks to warm temperatures. The new snow adhered to the warm snowpack and settled from warming. Sensitive wind slabs pass through a period of instability as they warm and the structure breaks down, then become increasingly less reactive as melting/settling continues. 

The last factor driving the low hazard rating today is a lack of post-storm wind loading we often see. After a mid-winter dry snow event, winds often shift around to the north west and transport any new snow from the Alpine Garden into the east facing ravines creating thick wind slabs. Wind today has returned to the northwest, but will be too light to transport the wet snow. If there is snow up high, much of it will be unaffected by the wind, trapped behind rocks and bushes found prior to Friday’s storm.  

The typical spring hazards emerged in recent weeks and should remain a player in your travel plans. New snow may bridge over some of the hazards which include: 

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

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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.