• Welcome to AlpineZone, the largest online community of skiers and snowboarders in the Northeast!

    You may have to REGISTER before you can post. Registering is FREE, gets rid of the majority of advertisements, and lets you participate in giveaways and other AlpineZone events!

Tuckerman Ravine Prep

andyzee

New member
Joined
Sep 14, 2004
Messages
10,884
Points
0
Location
Home
Website
www.nsmountainsports.com
Make sure not to let the water filter freeze overnight if the temps are that cold. If it does, the expansion of the water into ice will open up the tiny pores that make up the filter, which means the next time you use it, it won't be filtering out the bad stuff.

Best to just boil water in advance of needing it and then let it chill.

Good to know. Thanks!
 

cbcbd

New member
Joined
Sep 30, 2004
Messages
1,720
Points
0
Location
Seattle,WA
IMO, nothing wrong with using crampons and axe... I prefer to carry the skis in my pack (Dakine helipro) on the way up and at least have the axe out... don't always need the crampons with the good bootpack, but the axe makes it a lot more stable, I think.
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
17,569
Points
0
What part of PA? Maybe I'll stop by :lol:

Lehigh Valley..but I'll be skiing at Killington for the 420 Holiday..I'm definitely going to have a nice wake and bake and hit up a good breakfast spot before shredding the gnar..interupted by several safety meetings...JEA!!!!!!
 

danny p

New member
Joined
Mar 6, 2007
Messages
726
Points
0
getting to coops last weekend was pretty treacherous....hopefully full day sun and warm temps will make it better.
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
17,569
Points
0
getting to coops last weekend was pretty treacherous....hopefully full day sun and warm temps will make it better.

Maybe I'll just make a snowcave.....:idea: I need to indulge in stealth mode so the Pumpkin bong will stay home..
 
Last edited:

andyzee

New member
Joined
Sep 14, 2004
Messages
10,884
Points
0
Location
Home
Website
www.nsmountainsports.com
OK guys enough of this hijack, back on track :roll:

IMO, nothing wrong with using crampons and axe... I prefer to carry the skis in my pack (Dakine helipro) on the way up and at least have the axe out... don't always need the crampons with the good bootpack, but the axe makes it a lot more stable, I think.

Well, I b a newB, so I'll take em both and see how I like em :)
 

Geoff

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
5,100
Points
48
Location
South Dartmouth, Ma
OK guys enough of this hijack, back on track :roll:



Well, I b a newB, so I'll take em both and see how I like em :)

Just remember to take off the crampons before you glissade and be really careful with the crampons and ice axe since they can poke substantial holes in your body. No broken tibias, please.
 

andyzee

New member
Joined
Sep 14, 2004
Messages
10,884
Points
0
Location
Home
Website
www.nsmountainsports.com
Just remember to take off the crampons before you glissade and be really careful with the crampons and ice axe since they can poke substantial holes in your body. No broken tibias, please.

:lol: Good points :lol: Thanks

Oh, Killington will be closed, come on up!
 

atkinson

New member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
190
Points
0
Website
www.sugarbush.com
Crampons and ice axe are highly recommended. For people who debate this, remember that you don't really need them, until you really really need them.

Picture Left Gully. Afternoon of a beautiful day. A little wind starts to blow. You climb. Easy steps up the nice boot ladder. You climb some more. Right near the top, the boot ladder disappears in the shadows and the wind has turned the soft snow to ice. No amount of kicking gets you a toehold. You look down. Not going that way without skis or a board. Can't take the pack off without falling though. People are beginning to pile up below you on the boot ladder too. You are stuck. And starting to freak a little.

Or you have the right gear, climb straight up and barely even notice the ice. The skiing is dangerous in the Presidentials, but the climbing is dangerous-er.

John
 

andyzee

New member
Joined
Sep 14, 2004
Messages
10,884
Points
0
Location
Home
Website
www.nsmountainsports.com
Crampons and ice axe are highly recommended. For people who debate this, remember that you don't really need them, until you really really need them.

Picture Left Gully. Afternoon of a beautiful day. A little wind starts to blow. You climb. Easy steps up the nice boot ladder. You climb some more. Right near the top, the boot ladder disappears in the shadows and the wind has turned the soft snow to ice. No amount of kicking gets you a toehold. You look down. Not going that way without skis or a board. Can't take the pack off without falling though. People are beginning to pile up below you on the boot ladder too. You are stuck. And starting to freak a little.

Or you have the right gear, climb straight up and barely even notice the ice. The skiing is dangerous in the Presidentials, but the climbing is dangerous-er.

John

Good point, thank you!
 

riverc0il

New member
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
13,039
Points
0
Location
Ashland, NH
Website
www.thesnowway.com
I disagree with the comments on crampons on ice ax. Last year when you and I were up there and then when I went up in late May. I had folks with both flying past me going uphill, appears they do make a differnce. Also, I'm feeling adventurous and if conditions are good, may want to go for the summit. If snow is there I believe crampons will be helpful. As far as weight goes, I have no intention of skiing with all that on my back.So there
face.gif


Be sure to get your butt up there!
Don't forget to practice using them before you go. You wouldn't want your first self arrest with an ax and cramps to be on a 35-40 degree slope with people below you. There are a lot of safety issues that go along with those sharp pointy things. If the weather is good and the boot ladder well packed out, they aren't really necessary, IMO, especially considering the weight penalty. John has a good point about getting stuck at the top of the gully when these tools would be helpful. My approach is the go when the snow is soft and the ladders are well established and climb less steep routes. Steeper routes with more exposure and questionable weather, I would consider them helpful tools with the appropriate practice and learning.
 

awf170

New member
Joined
Jan 28, 2005
Messages
4,380
Points
0
Location
Lynn and Lowell MA
Or you have the right gear, climb straight up and barely even notice the ice. The skiing is dangerous in the Presidentials, but the climbing is dangerous-er.

John

..and you don't even notice how icy the snow is then try to ski down because it was so easy to hike up and end up sliding down about 400 ft. of vert on complete boilerplate. Yep, that was my first experience with crampons. :dunce:
 

andyzee

New member
Joined
Sep 14, 2004
Messages
10,884
Points
0
Location
Home
Website
www.nsmountainsports.com
Today I was trying out the sleeping bag, air pad, inflatable pillow, to see how they all feel and fit into the bag. My wife says "good thing you don't have an inflatable wife" I said "hmmm..." :lol:
 
Top