Skiing Tuckerman Ravine

[Greg]

I've never skied Tuckerman Ravine, but have hiked to HoJo's a few years back in early May to check it out. I said to myself then that I need to get up there to ski it. Maybe not necessarily the lip or upper headwalls or chutes, but perhaps just the lower snowfields. I consider myself a pretty decent skier, but I've never done any backcountry. Typically, when is the best time to ski Tucks? I would like to go when the conditions are best (i.e. most open terrain and ability to ski mostly back to Pinkham) and the safest (I do have a wife and daughter I'd like to return home to ). I figure if I start planning now, there's a chance it could happen next Spring. Anyone up for putting an AlpineZone/Tucks trip together? I'd like to get some true Tucks experts involved so we do things right. Thoughts?

 

[trailbiscuit]

The best place to go for recent news on Tucks is http://timefortuckerman.com/. This is where you'll find the Tucks zealots.

My $.02: The best time to go is midweek. Weekends are insane, and I find I feel that I have a bigger chance of getting killed by some yahoo rather than by the many other dangers: avalanche, crevasse, failing ice, etc. Plus, it's not exactly a wilderness experience with 8000 other people present.

Also, I would recmommend trying to stay overnight because it's nice to wake up to a quiet ravine.

As far as skiing ability, be certain you're comfortable in variable snow conditions because you never know what you will find in the ravine. And you only have to ski something as steep as you want because you only hike up as far as you feel comfortable with.

It's well worth the trip.

 

[Greg]

The best place to go for recent news on Tucks is http://timefortuckerman.com/. This is where you'll find the Tucks zealots.

Yeah - I was gonna go there, but I get the impression they are hard core Tucks guys. I'm looking to get info as a total newbie and perhaps form a group to plan a trip next year. I took a look at the virtual tour which provides some basic info:

http://timefortuckerman.com/tuckerman1.html

Any other thoughts?

 

[salida]

I think this is a great idea. I have never done tucks before, and I think that it would be a good sorce of information as well.

porter

 

[MtnMagic]

Best time?! Somewhere between March, April, May, & even early June. The hike up is seriously grueling. The ski down is well, for lack of a better word,
breathtaking!

You have to see it, hike it, realize it to get the "feeling" of it.
_______________
Skiers have often said to me that just the hike up to the lip scares them!

 

[Charlie Schuessler]

From my expirence with Tuckerman's, don't even bother going up unless the SUN is OUT! Hiking up into overcast (or worse complete cloud cover) with your gear and then trying to ski it is not sane.

Weekday, local overnight stay and plan a day or two for adverse weather. That's ideal...however...you never know what can happen there.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

This year's single trip made 20 years straight that I've made the trip. I still wouldn't consider myself an authority on the place, however.

The mid-week advice is right on. The more crowded the place is, the more hazardous. As far as when to go, the March, April are the best, but hitting it with good weather and stable snow are a bit of a challenge. I've had some great skiing in February, and some awefull days in May. The key is to follow the conditions on the Mt. Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol Website http://www.tuckerman.org.

Also, it's important to head up with realistic objectives, like "We're going to have a nice hike", then you won't push yourself or partners into something stupid.

Being able to ski the "Sure-Burn" Trail is a big plus

 

[NickKopan]

I am by no means an expert on Tuck's, but I have skied it for 8 years. Take my advice with a grain of salt, because conditions are different every year.

If you want to research Tuckerman, I'd start with reading the avalance advisories:
http://www.tuckerman.org/avalanche/index.html

Read every advisory for the whole year, and you'll get a good idea of what to expect at the different times of year:
http://www.tuckerman.org/avalanche/archives/

The late March warm spells usually melt off most of the lower Sherburne Trail. In early April, the lower section of the trail is usually closed. The Sherburne trail gets undercut around the little headwall, as soon as the ravine temps start the melt off, usually in late March. This is one of the more dangerous sections of the Sherburne, since the Culter river drainage flows directly underneath the trail in some sections.

The avalanche danger is usually reduced to low once the first couple freeze / thaws occur in the Ravine, usually in mid March. Any added snowfall, especially a deep fluffy dump, will elevate the avalanche danger considerably. If you time it right, there are usually a few weeks in March where you can ski the ravine in good snow with low avalanche danger.

If you are considering skiing the ravine before the "freeze / thaw" spring conditions, I would climb and ski in a party of 4 or more, all of whom have been properly trained in avalanche safety, tranceiver use, and self arrest.

 

[Greg]

Great info, Nick and others. Thanks.

 

[jwind]

The best place to go for recent news on Tucks is http://timefortuckerman.com/. This is where you'll find the Tucks zealots.

Yeah - I was gonna go there, but I get the impression they are hard core Tucks guys.
http://timefortuckerman.com/tuckerman1.html

Any other thoughts?

As a Timefortuckerman board member i would reccomend psting anyquestions you might have. There is a FAQ over there that is quite helpful. Tell 'em you're a newbie...they would be more then happy answer all your questions. Tell 'em justin sent you

 

[TeleGrrrl]

I've skied Tucks 3 years, and had a near death experience in 2001.
Pay attention to the weather and snow/ice conditions.
Take an avalanche safety class, and buy the gear. Know before you go.

 

[ChileMass]

The best place to go for recent news on Tucks is http://timefortuckerman.com/. This is where you'll find the Tucks zealots.

Yeah - I was gonna go there, but I get the impression they are hard core Tucks guys.
http://timefortuckerman.com/tuckerman1.html

Any other thoughts?

As a Timefortuckerman board member i would reccomend psting anyquestions you might have. There is a FAQ over there that is quite helpful. Tell 'em you're a newbie...they would be more then happy answer all your questions. Tell 'em justin sent you

Jwind - thanks for helping out with the info and the intro to this important group. If it helps even one person avoid injury, you have done us a service!!..........

 

[jwind]

Really a friendly group over there..I swear If you need to know ANYTHING about Tucks they would be happy to answer all your questions.

 

[severine]

I'm wondering...how will Tuckerman's be impacted by the plans to have the Cog Railway running this winter for skiing? With an easier trip to the top of Mt Washington, do you think more people will end up moseying on over to Tuck's? Just a thought...

 

[David Metsky]

I'm wondering...how will Tuckerman's be impacted by the plans to have the Cog Railway running this winter for skiing? With an easier trip to the top of Mt Washington, do you think more people will end up moseying on over to Tuck's? Just a thought...

The train only goes up to treeline. Skiers will not be allowed onto WMNF land for skiing, they can only ski down the train right-of-way. It will have no affect on Tuckerman.

-dave-

 

[severine]

Good to know! Wouldn't want to mess with tradition!

 

[NEtracker]

Hey, Great Links guys.
Never skiied Tucks, but hiked it many times dry & wet.