Presidential Range

Avalanches are unlikely today. The greater concern is springtime mountain hazards, including sliding falls, open holes, and undermined snow. Look for and avoid these hazards as you travel.

Expect to find a mostly stable snowpack across the Presidential Range today. Over the past two weeks, the snowpack has been subjected to several periods of above-freezing temperatures, rain, free water moving easily through the snowpack, and time to adjust. The last measurable snow accumulation in the ravines was March 26. Together, these inputs have continued to push the snowpack away from winter structure and toward a more mature spring snowpack.

Wet snow avalanches are possible during this transition, particularly when the snowpack first becomes wet throughout and meltwater begins to pool above crusts or other weak layers. Forecasters in the field have found signs that previously buried crusts are degrading and that free water is moving deeper into the snowpack profile, but they did not observe pooling. Given this, we believe a large wet snow avalanche is unlikely today. Still, wet snow avalanches can be unpredictable, and in areas with lingering structure or deep buried ice crusts, an avalanche could still occur. Continue to use safe avalanche travel techniques and carry avalanche rescue gear.

It might be worth refreshing your knowledge on the most dangerous mountain hazards you could encounter during this time of year. 

• Long Sliding Falls: Long sliding falls are one of the most serious hazards in the White Mountains during the winter and spring. When snow surfaces become firm or icy, especially after a freeze or rain event, a simple stumble can quickly turn into an uncontrollable slide-for-life. These falls often result in traumatic injuries and can be fatal. Steep terrain like the Summer Lion Head Trail Traverse leaves little room for error. Preventing a fall is your best defense: this means wearing crampons, using an ice axe, and using deliberate, well-practiced footwork. Once you're sliding, it’s often too late.Previous warming and fog have eaten away at the snowpack, exposing rocks and trees that could amplify the consequence of a fall. Knowing what is below you will be important as these hazards can make more areas no fall zones.
• Undermined snow: Meltwater flowing under the snowpack melts away the snow above, creating thin bridges of snow that can collapse. These will emerge at the tops of gullies (particularly on south-facing slopes) and in areas that have streams running, like the brook feeding the Little Headwall. The sound of running water can sometimes be heard under the snow and is a good indicator of this hazard.
• Snow holes: Snow holes are opening up. These openings in the snowpack can be very deep and large enough for a person to fall into. In most cases, these openings have no reasonable exit until the snow completely finishes melting. These features have been a factor in several accidents over the years.

Check out our Springtime Mountain Hazards page for more info.

OBSERVATIONS: Please consider submitting an observation on our website or in the new Avy phone app of what you are seeing in your travels. Submitting an observation hones your skills, informs other users, and improves our forecasts.