Mount Washington snowfields

[Angus]

i think it would be "fair" to argue that all these carriage roads et al, leftovers from the turn of the century and/or before, are one of the reasons we have the national and state park systems we do today. they fostered amonst the general public (& especially the guilded class) an awareness, appreciation and accessibility to the natural landscape thus creating a impetus for preservation. For many of us, TR's (Teddy Roosevelts') sort of outdoor recreating seems quaint or even barbaric - but it was these experiences that made him create the nat'l park system. As an aside if you're looking for visionary - think the Baxters and their covenants of "forever wild" - that may be a paraphrasing!

 

[lftgly]

Angus-
Last year Zowie and I brought her then 11 YO son, Ian, to the east snowfields. He had no problem skiing down, but he had a horrible time hiking up.

Even though it was warm, in the 50s, the boot track was slippery. He slipped at the very bottom, and slid 50 feet to the rocks below the snow. We were lucky, he didn't get hurt; but it scared the heck out of him. He was so intimidated, it took 3/4 hour to get him back up to the car, and he was all done for the day.

I shouldn't have underestimated the difficulty of hiking up steep snow/ice, especially for a youngster.

Here's the TR from that day (without mention of Ian's tumble):
http://forums.alpinezone.com/4032-east-snowfields-mt-washington.html

Here's a few picts from this Sunday:
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=2067


Good luck!

 

[awf170]

2006 Opening Day:
We will open the week of May 7, 2006 (weather permitting)
Drive your own car or take a guided tour on the Nation's oldest manmade attraction, The Mt. Washington Auto Road.

The week of May 7. Ummm what the heck does that supposed to mean.:-? :roll: If it doesn't open this weekend hopefully I will be doing a GoS to hillmans loop or something like that as long as the rain doesn't do too much damage to the GoS.

 

[riverc0il]

probably means they are clearing snow as quick as possible but are dependant on the weather. one week isn't gonna make too much of a difference, still a ton of snow up there.

 

[loafer89]

I just called the auto road and the lady that I spoke with stated that they where aiming for a summit opening on May 13th, but it could be earlier depending on the weather.

 

[Breeze]

I just called the auto road and the lady that I spoke with stated that they where aiming for a summit opening on May 13th, but it could be earlier depending on the weather.

http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/comments/

An interesting pic there taken by Jim Salge of OBS yesterday at shift change shows just what rain and snowmelt can do to the upper portions/ gravel sections of the road. Great commentary.

Breeze

 

[redalienx11]

looks like this weekend is a no-go for me

 

[awf170]

bump.... who's down for saterday? Once again I'm in if the weather is good and the road actually opens.

 

[dmc]

Glad i hit the snowfields last week..
There was NOBODY up there.........

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Didn't get there today (just hit Left Gully), but the views up from the valley show a LOT of snow up top.

I've been watching the road progess (as I also have to get up there for work) but it still looks like they have a ways to go. Glad I got there today. I'm out for next week and the weather looks suck-o-rama for the remainder of the week.

 

[riverc0il]

family commitment on saturday or else i would head up if they opened. probably aiming for the weekend after the one coming up.

 

[awf170]

Looks like another bad weekend.:roll: Alright who's in for the 20th?:lol:

 

[loafer89]

Looks like another bad weekend.:roll: Alright who's in for the 20th?:lol:

I have been reading that this weather pattern may last through the 21st, ick:flame: :smash:

I am starting to forget what the sun looks like. Not complaining about the temps though, mid 50's are fine with me for daytime highs.

 

[ALLSKIING]

I have been reading that this weather pattern may last through the 21st, ick:flame: :smash:

I am starting to forget what the sun looks like. Not complaining about the temps though, mid 50's are fine with me for daytime highs.

HEAVY rain today...Lots of fun.:sad:

 

[loafer89]

HEAVY rain today...Lots of fun.:sad:

A shiteload of flooding as well on the local roads going to work, some water is 1-2' deep.
I got the lawn in my backyard cut last night before the rain hit, good thing too as I would have had a jungle next week if not.

 

[awf170]

I'm telling you... I got confidence that it will open to the top this weekend.:lol: Who's in for saterday the 27th. Looks like it is going to wicked hot and sunny. Good day to escape the 80 degee with some skiing.

 

[awf170]

Come on guys... Mt. Washington got like 15 inches of snow in the past 3 days. Plus all of that blow-in in the snowfields it will be like epic chest deep powder.

 

[salida]

Wishful thinking...

 

[riverc0il]

Come on guys... Mt. Washington got like 15 inches of snow in the past 3 days. Plus all of that blow-in in the snowfields it will be like epic chest deep powder.

that would actually be reason enough not go if things were not going to consolidate (ideally) within the next few days. i await closer review of the weather later in the week before making plans, but skiing is definitely in the cards sometime this weekend.

 

[awf170]

that would actually be reason enough not go if things were not going to consolidate (ideally) within the next few days. i await closer review of the weather later in the week before making plans, but skiing is definitely in the cards sometime this weekend.

I was just kidding about the powder. The stuff was so slushy that it would be nasty to ski now. I think the water equivalent was like 6 inches. If it was powder it would of been about 6 ft. of snow. It looks like the corn cycle will either start wednesday or thursday which should be enough time for saterday.