Weekend Update–Will it ever be cold again?

May 032013
 

Happy Friday everyone. There were two possible titles that I thought of for this post. One is the one you see above and the alternative was “It’s been hot all week, so why hasn’t more ice fallen?” I chose to go with the shorter one, but the second one gets more directly to the point. It has been a very warm week. Nighttime temperatures have mostly been above freezing, allowing the snowpack to continue it’s meltout around the clock. I hadn’t personally been to the bowl since last weekend, so when I arrived this morning I was very surprised to see as much ice still sitting up on the Headwall as there currently is.

I don’t know what to tell you about the weekend weather other than it’s going to be great. The latest forecast for Gorham calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the 70′s Saturday and reaching 81 on Sunday. Up here, I would expect temperatures in the upper 50′s in the ravines. This is definitely the type of weather that necessitates a good hat, sunglasses, and liberal applications of sunscreen. Remember that snow can reflect up to 80% of the UV light, so don’t forget to apply it to all those places where the sun doesn’t usually shine, like the underside of your nose.

Before getting into the good stuff, like what runs are skiing well and where I would recommend going, you need to know where the hazards are and what areas to avoid.

 

2013-05-03-sluice-ice-right As mentioned, there is a lot of ice in the Center Headwall and the Sluice area. This has been hanging prominently above Lunch Rocks, so we are continuing to recommend avoiding this area. Icefall is sporadic and to some extent, unpredictable. We know that it will come down at some point, what we don’t know is exactly when it will fall or how large the chunks will be. When it goes big, it goes really big. The ice sitting above Lunch Rocks is in position to crash down as a single large block, about the size of a large van. The best way to not get hit by flying ice is to not be in the places where it will fall. We recommend hanging out in the left side of the ravine to reduce your risk.

2013-05-03-center-bowl-and-lip The Lip area is in very poor shape. Every season we close the Lip and Tuckerman Ravine Trail to all use from Lunch Rocks up through the junction with the Alpine Garden Trail. We are on the verge of closing this area, and it may actually happen tomorrow morning. This will be well-signed, so don’t worry too much about whether or not it has happened, you will know. In reality though, if you’re smart enough to be reading this you’re smart enough to stay away from the area whether or not it’s officially closed. Want more info? Check out the WMNF Supervisor’s Order.

Crevasses and undermined snow are becoming more and more prominent as the season progresses. The largest crevasses are in the Center Bowl, but others are forming in various places around the ravine. Undermining (when water melts out the snowpack from below) is prevalent in many locales, including the lower part of Hillman’s Highway. Anywhere you see a stream running underneath the snow, you should be alert to the potential for breaking through.

Ok you’ve read this far…

Recommended runs:

  • Hillman’s is a good ski option for a long run. There is some undermined snow at the bottom and some bumps throughout, but overall it would be a recommended run.
  • Left Gully is still skiing top to bottom. It has large moguls, but relatively little falling ice potential or crevasses.
  • The summit’s east snowfields. They aren’t the longest runs on the mountain, but the quality is great. With Right Gully and Lobster Claw being melted at the tops, the Lion Head Summer Trail is the best way to get there from Hermit Lake.
  • The hiking trail…not so much for skiing, but it’s the recommended way to get from the bowl to the shelter site.

Maybe go here, but they’re not great:

  • Lobster Claw. It’s melted out completely in two of the choke points, so it’s a short run. But the quality of what is there is pretty good down from the high point to the floor. Icefall potential is low in this gully.
  • Right Gully. The top has completely melted out, so it’s a relatively short bump run down to the top of Lunch Rocks. From here you can go right or left, but moving right brings you into the lower Sluice and underneath the giant ice. If you go this way, keep moving until you are well out of the way of any icefall potential.
  • Lower Snowfields. They never really filled in this year, and now they are more than a bit bushy. But if you want to avoid the crowds…

Not recommended runs:

  • The Chute. 2013-05-03-left-and-chute The big reason for this not being recommended is the channel carved by sluff over the past week. This is a couple feet deep and runs right down the center. Good luck not getting stuck in it. Also, the normal bootpack line has melted out through the band of rock and bushes. Climbing is not a pleasant experience.
  • The Center Bowl/Icefall/Headwall/Lip. Call these runs what you will, they are subject to crevasse hazard and will put you in the path of any ice that falls from the headwall.
  • The Lip. As mentioned, it is likely to be closed. In all seriousness, a fall in this area could be fatal if you fall into one of the open water holes or crevasses. It’s best to avoid this area until next season.
  • The Sluice. The top is a mess of undermined snow and the bottom is subject to a lot of icefall hazard.

We will have Ski Patrollers and Snow Rangers at the ready to answer any questions you may have. Seek us out when you get to Hermit Lake, even if just to say hello. Enjoy the weekend,

Jeff

 Posted by at 4:34 pm

Weekend Update for Friday, April 26, 2013

Apr 262013
 

Vacation week in Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire comes to a close this weekend and with the weather forecast looking good for spring skiing, you can expect the crowds to descend on the Bowl as they have this time every year. Some folks like the people watching and others like the skiing and beer drinking but whatever you plan to do for entertainment, there are a few things to be aware of to keep your good times on the safer side.

Today’s mixture of  sun and clouds with temperatures in the low 30′s allowed snow to soften to varying degrees but all aspects were soft enough to easily hold and edge. Weekend overnight temperatures are dropping below freezing so things may be a little hard  early in the morning Saturday but the sun should work its magic by late morning, depending on aspect. If the forecast holds, Sunday will be even warmer so expect good skiing conditions earlier in the day.  Afternoon snow or rain showers will be possible due to unsettled weather so pack a rainshell and warm layers and be prepared for cooler temperatures during a passing shower or after a sweaty hike up to the rim. I observed lots of folks arriving at Hermit Lake in soaking wet cotton layers today. Even though it is sunny in town, you are squarely in “the mountains” when you are in Tuckerman Ravine so prepare accordingly.  It may seem obvious to most but an accident or unexpected delay can quickly make an uncomfortable time more dangerous if even a mild case of hypothermia starts to take hold.  Kids have an even harder time regulating their core temperature so the same rules apply to their clothing as well. Any other cotton clothing besides an easy to shed T-shirt has no place in the mountain environment, especially in the spring.

Warming temperatures have further decayed the frozen waterfalls in Center Bowl and Sluice so as we have mentioned everyday in the advisory, don’t linger beneath these massive chunks of ice.  Lunch Rocks would be more appropriately Mass Casualty rocks due to their position directly beneath Sluice ice.  You can imagine the outcome if this ice, which is the equivalent of two school buses stacked and standing on end, breaks off rolling and tumbling until it explodes in showers of shrapnel onto a crowd hanging around in the sun on the rocks below. Bring a small pad or sit on your pack and enjoy the view from someplace that doesn’t carry this risk. A traumatic brain injury is not the kind of souvenir you want to take home with you.

Speaking of head injuries, sledding is something that folks have enjoyed doing here in the past but please be aware that the prime sledding terrain in the Center Bowl area is directly beneath one of the most serious icefall threats.  Fortunately, a frozen debris pile from last weeks wet slab avalanche is mostly blocking off this area for sledding but realize that sleds rank as one of the least desirable forms of mountain travel tools when it comes to safety.  The rate of injury of sledders outpaces others due to the high speed and lack of control once underway.  The bowl, even the floor, is steeper than you think. And please refrain from sledding on the trail as it threatens other hiker’s safety as well as your own. Many people have been seriously injured sledding here so please consider the risk to yourself, your family or others.

The Tuckerman Ravine Trail as well as the Sherburne Ski trail have been hammered by sun and warm temps through the week.  This season’s generally lighter density snow really didn’t provide a long lasting base for either trail though cold temperatures this month, and last, gave us a good long spell of skiable conditions.  The hike up is really slick in the morning when the snow is frozen over.  Lots of folks appreciated the security of their microspikes while hiking up to Hermit Lake today. Remember real mountaineering crampons and ice axes are recommended just below and above treeline.  Lots of ultralightweight aluminum crampons and ice axes geared towards ski mountaineering and snow climbing are on the market these days. These tools will allow you to climb efficiently and with confidence when the climb gets icy and steep and the weight penalty is minimal.

We moved the rope up the Sherburne Ski trail to cutover number 5 this morning.  Skiing above it is actually pretty marginal and warm temperatures today and tomorrow will most likely force an even higher closure soon.  PLEASE don’t duck the rope, even if you are convinced you can ski further down the trail.  You may be able to make a few more turns, but you will soon be walking down a muddy path and contributing to the erosion of this trail. Erosion will help more rocks emerge and drainage gullies to appear further reducing the days of nice descents to the parking lot.  So please do your part to preserve this unique trail by moving over to the hiking trail at the rope and walking back down to Pinkham. The trail’s longevity is in your hands.

Good alpine climbing options exist in Huntington Ravine this weekend and to any experienced climber the hazards will be obvious. Melting ice and flowing water exist along with good supportable snow for climbing so finding a safe route that minimizes your exposure to rock and icefall will be the key to a good day there.  Warm daytime temperatures and full sun will likely make the snow on routes with a southern aspect an exercise in kicking “buckets” so anticipate wet boots to go along with your sunburn.

Remember to read our advisory or touch base with a Snow Ranger or Ski Patroller for more detailed information when you get to Hermit Lake.  Thanks for reading and safe travels!

 

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