Tuckerman Ravine

I skinned up to Tuckerman Ravine this morning with the intention of assessing the recent snow and skiing one of the gullies if conditions permitted. Visibility was poor when I arrived at the floor of the bowl late morning. I climbed though the brush and found a sheltered location to dig a pit on a south facing slope to looker's right of Lobster Claw. Total height of snow at this location was 240 cm, with 65 cm of recent snow resting on top of the crust from last weeks warm weather. An extended column test yielded the result ECTP17 with a clean shear taking place 50 cm down on a very subtle density change within the slab. Interestingly, it didn't fail on the interface with the crust layer. The skies cleared just as I finished the test allowing for good visibility across the bowl. There was evidence of old avalanche debris on the floor of the bowl and what appeared to be an old crown line under the Ice Fall. The entirety of the Headwall looked quite wind loaded. I skied down the runout of Lobster Claw and then climbed above Lunch Rocks to the right of Right Gully. Two hand shears both released stubbornly at the crust interface. I decided to play it safe and turn around there. I skied down through Lunch Rocks, the Little Headwall and Sherburne. The drainage leading to the Little Headwall has many open water holes, but is passable. The Sherburne is skiing quite well.

Quick report