Skiing/riding Tuckermans

[urban07sti]

I'm thinking ahead to late spring this season about trying Tuckermans Ravine (skiing or boarding). I'm sure many people on this board have done it and I've done a fair amount of research into what goes into this type of adventure. My real worry is just how the terrain actually is....I know obviously it's pretty steep. I am not trained in avalanches, yet I do notice that avalanche reports are posted, I would follow them to the T.

I have skied a large percentage of the signature/double black runs on the east, including the front 4 at stowe, white heat, ovation, outer limits, etc (enough tooting my horn)....and can handle my own pretty well. I've almost skied some pretty steep stuff in Colorado and Oregon. I'm just curious what to prepare for when coming down Tucks?

Also, any suggestions on what method to go down on? I'm pretty much at an equal level for boarding and skiing, although when encountering ice I'd much rather be 2 planking it. Assuming then I would want to be on my skis?

I workout a lot and understand the physical demands of hiking and skiing, I just am concerned when I get up there and finally gaze upon the terrain. I do not want to look like an idiot and have underestimated the steepness of the terrain. I won't try to be a hero and ski it if I cannot, I'd rather eat my pride and make it down safely. Any suggestions/hints, warnings would get great. I'm assuming it'll be a really good season up there with all this snow.

 

[snowmonster]

You may want to wait until the end of this month or April to seriously head into Tux just so that the snowpack has a chance to consolidate. I'm actually heading to Tux this weekend but it's really just a reconnaisance mission and I'll probably just hit the Sherbie. Of course, if the conditions are good and there is no avy danger, I'll head into the bowl.

See the Trips and Events section. A bunch of AZers are planning a trip there in mid-April. Some things-to-bring lists are there.

 

[urban07sti]

Great, thanks!

Let me know how the trip goes this weekend.

 

[davidhowland14]

also try www.timefortuckerman.com and check out the forums, as well as the info on that site. Trip reports for tux should be there. I'll try and get some steepness pictures and post them here.

this is hillman's, always a good option if the bowl is icy or too crowded or you just want something a little easier.

the interesting thing about this picture is that if you look at the triangle shaped area of snow at the bottom of hillman's, most of that used to be trees. Avalanches ran this year that cleared that whole area out. The pic on the bottom is before the major avalanches.

another shot. most of this area used to be trees.

looking down left gully

These excellent pictures are not mine. They belong mostly to jumpturn on TFT.

 

[urban07sti]

Great, thanks again. I've been on that site you mentioned looking around. Starting to gain a decent knowledge base (I guess?).

 

[davidhowland14]

check out the psot again, I added a bunch of pics after you replied.

 

[campgottagopee]

I do not want to look like an idiot and have underestimated the steepness of the terrain.

All I can say is my first time at Tux I felt the same way you are right now. That being said, I did look like an idiot and I did underestimate how steep the place really is. Honestly when I got to the top I DID NOT WANT TO SKI DOWN but I did because I figured it would be safer than walking back down. Really. Once I got over the initail shock of how effin steep it was I was fine and skied it good. You'll have a blast!!

 

[urban07sti]

Haha ok, kind of what I wanted to hear and also not. I'm confident in my ability to ski/ride steep terrain. I'm not a super mogul skier or a crazy park person, but I can hold my own on steep terrain, so I figure I can do it. Speaking with my pal who is going to be doing it on a board, hoping to get up there in April.

 

[TheBEast]

Check out www.timefortuckerman.com - a ton of good information. Tuckerman is a "chose your own adventure" type place. You can drop cliffs, ski 45 degree chutes or just chill out and ski the lower half of the bowl which is pretty mellow. The snow rangers up there are also very knowledgable and can stear your in the right direction.

I think you'll find it is well worth the effort.

 

[davidhowland14]

first weekend in april a bunch of people from backcountry agenda are gonna be up in the bowl. That's usually a good weekend to go. Still good snow, you can ski the sherbie out, but no quite so cold.

 

[snowmonster]

I share the recommendation on www.timefortuckerman.com as a source of info on heading to Tucks and on eastern backcountry in general. I just didn't know the propriety of recommending other sites on places like these. Anyway, nice folks on that board too. Met some of them at a barbecue at Redbones.

 

[snoseek]

check out the avy conditions before you make the hike up. Talk with rangers as mentioned before, and it really is good to have flexible dates because conditions can really vary. As far as steepness you should be fine, just stay near your comfort zone. The bowl is pretty mellow and gradually gets steeper. Always stay looking up for hazards and make sure your line doesn't point you to a pile of rocks. If you can avoid weekends your experience will be safer and much nicer.

 

[davidhowland14]

If you can avoid weekends your experience will be safer and much nicer.

I would say that if you're looking for an isolated, bc ski experience, Tux in the spring is not the place to go. It's usually a bit of a party scene up there. Good runs get cheers from the lunch rocks, as to yard-sales, and runs-sans-clothing. The ravine is an extremely fun place to be, just not for those looking for quite and solitude.

 

[powbmps]

Wear your helmet and be very wary of the people around you.

Last time I was up there some d**k head knocked a rock down, which barely missed me and hit the foot of the person next to me. Luckily he was wearing plastic shelled climbing boots. The guy never said anything. Just watched the rock rolling toward us.

It gets pretty sketchy later in the season when the ice chunks start falling and crevasses start opening up.

A bunch of people over on TGR are heading up in April.

 

[snoseek]

I would say that if you're looking for an isolated, bc ski experience, Tux in the spring is not the place to go. It's usually a bit of a party scene up there. Good runs get cheers from the lunch rocks, as to yard-sales, and runs-sans-clothing. The ravine is an extremely fun place to be, just not for those looking for quite and solitude.

It's cool midweek with me but the place is a shit show on a sunny weekend day. too much booze and lot's of people skiing stuff they should have thought harder about. The party is kind of fun but more annoying than anything.

 

[JohnGD33]

tucks pics

I agree there are alot of yahoo's and people there that have a very hard time. You can almost bet that you will see someone starfish down the headwall. If I were you I would ski becasue climbing the headwall without hard boots(ski boots) or boots with crampons will be very hard. I am heading up Easter Sunday and I was thinking about bringing my tele skis but if the conditions are firm I will want my heel locked down. If you plan right you will have a blast I can't wait to get there. There is a sweet place to stay in gorham called The Royal something. (pool and hot tub) if you need a place to stay.

 

[urban07sti]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm getting really excited to go. I figured a nice sunny day would bring out lots of people, some of which who after a few "liquid confidence drinks" will want to go ski it. I'm not looking for total tranquil BC skiing, just a good time with some challenging skiing. I'll keep my head on my shoulders and watch out for everyone else (as the usual skiing). I'll be saving the beers for afterwards....if it's a nice weekend I'll bring up some tailgate stuff and some beers for others...:beer:

 

[SIKSKIER]

One thing you must understand about Tucks is for the most part,you have to climb what you want to ski so only go as high and steep as you feel comfortable with.Don't worry about making the hike in and not being able to "get down".From how you descibed your ability,if you get to the bowl and find it too challenging you can at least ski down the Shurburne if you go by late April into early May.(or longer depending on how the snowpack holds up)Having said that,It can be very difficult to put skis on half way up a climb in the bowl because of the steepness.I found myself feeling a little vertigo in the right Gully one year cuz it was sooo steep.Go and trust that you can ski only what you can see and climb.It's an eastern skiers right of passage.

 

[andyzee]

I'm a 51 year old out of shape spaz gaper and I did it If you have concerns, just stick to either end of the ravine, here you find the least pitch (although, still substantial). Also don't worry about looking weird and getting laughed at, that's probably a bigger sport as Tucks than the skiing, as can be seen in this photo:

 

[roark]