Quick report
In case anyone is planning a Northern Presidentials trip – or just wants to look in awe at the destruction from what may have been the largest Presidentials avalanche since 2010 (more destructive I suspect that the avalanches this season in the Bowl and Hillman’s) – tracklog, pictures, and captions here: https://www.strava.com/activities/11294889416 Snowpack (and related) details: 1. Parking at the former Lowe’s Garage (and even more formerly Cabins) seemed to be implicitly allowed last year (with a family member reported to be living above/behind the former store), but the place appears to be entirely abandoned now, so I parked at App instead. 2. I started skinning at the base of the Spur trail and from there all the way to Gray Knob cabin via Hincks trail I had only two trivially short portages. 3. From Gray Knob to The Beach was more skinning than not (with a nice angling snowfield across Castle Ravine, even if it wasn't solid enough to merit a ski lap), and even the not parts were fairly good travel efficiency (by Northern Presidentials standards). 4. The descent all the way onto the floor of Jefferson Ravine was spectacular (the good version of that adjective), and the avalanche destruction goes beyond what my pictures convey. 5. My exit through the center of Jefferson Ravine made for an elegant tracklog but many of the moves through the vegetation up high were anything but elegant (although I have had worse up there … far worse). 6. The 7 was great skiing, but the first part already has some rock outcroppings and open water, then after the sharp traverse to the left, the snow is narrow, with one small water hole. 7. The postholing was so miserable down low, all the way to ~2,700’ elevation, that might have been better to keep ski boots on and endured dozens of portages/transitions instead so as to keep skiing during any possible opportunity.