Tuckerman Ravine Prep

[snowmonster]

Alright, you guys have convinced me. I'm in the market for a good ice axe.

 

[andyzee]

Alright, you guys have convinced me. I'm in the market for a good ice axe.

Well, if you order today, you can get one in time for Tux on the 25th!

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Well, if you order today, you can get one in time for Tux on the 25th!

Doesn't leave much time to learn how to use it.

Riv and I were up yesterday. The coverage is insane. Anything I'd want to ski (and plenty of things I wouldn't) were covered spectacularly. Heck, there was easily 3' snow in Pinkham. There might have been 3 bare spots on the Sure-burn. This is up there with 1997!

Have fun and stay safe. (Maybe that's redundant, It's hard to have fun if you get hurt.)

 

[andyzee]

Doesn't leave much time to learn how to use it.

Riv and I were up yesterday. The coverage is insane. Anything I'd want to ski (and plenty of things I wouldn't) were covered spectacularly. Heck, there was easily 3' snow in Pinkham. There might have been 3 bare spots on the Sure-burn. This is up there with 1997!

Have fun and stay safe. (Maybe that's redundant, It's hard to have fun if you get hurt.)

Thanks for the report, did you by any chance venture up to the summit?

 

[andyzee]

OK, ice ax and crampons came in today. Freakin things are sharp!

 

[dmc]

OK, ice ax and crampons came in today. Freakin things are sharp!

You should practice a little before using...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-arrest

Remember - if using crampons to climb - use the axe...
People break legs when they try to self arrest with cramps...

Come up to Hunter and climb Racers Edge and practice... Thats what i did...

 

[andyzee]

You should practice a little before using...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-arrest

Remember - if using crampons to climb - use the axe...
People break legs when they try to self arrest with cramps...

Come up to Hunter and climb Racers Edge and practice... Thats what i did...

Good info, thanks. Now that I actually see and feel the crampons, I could see where there may be danger. There's no issues with parking at Hunter and Hiking up?

 

[riverc0il]

Thanks for the report, did you by any chance venture up to the summit?

That was the plan but we got a slightly late start. Was not worth the risk in going for the summit and having the bowl in the shade by the time we got down the snowfields. We got to just below the Lawn Cutoff and skied down The Lip. Would have been a sensational day to summit and ski over 4k vert but certainly not worth the risk of skiing down a shaded ravine.

 

[andyzee]

That was the plan but we got a slightly late start. Was not worth the risk in going for the summit and having the bowl in the shade by the time we got down the snowfields. We got to just below the Lawn Cutoff and skied down The Lip. Would have been a sensational day to summit and ski over 4k vert but certainly not worth the risk of skiing down a shaded ravine.

Sherburne still open?

 

[riverc0il]

Sherburne still open?

Oh yea, top to bottom and probably will still be for your tentative date. No more than a half dozen very very small bare patches and sensational coverage all the way down. Skied right over the bridge to the parking lot. I imagine by your tentative date, you will probably need to take skis off once or twice at least but it will likely be top to bottom for many more days.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The long range is actually looking like cooler weather for mid-late next week..but very very warm the next few days..

 

[awf170]

That was the plan but we got a slightly late start. Was not worth the risk in going for the summit and having the bowl in the shade by the time we got down the snowfields. We got to just below the Lawn Cutoff and skied down The Lip. Would have been a sensational day to summit and ski over 4k vert but certainly not worth the risk of skiing down a shaded ravine.

What time was it? I skied the east snowfields at 5:45 pm today, they were shady, but still nice. I'm kind of retarded though and starting hiking at 3pm.

 

[newenglandskier1]

Hi guys,

I have a difficult scenario that i would like to present. I am hoping to ski Tux on Sunday for the first time. I am confident i have sufficient ability to ski tux, based on a couple of things. I have talked to some friends who have skied it, and they say I my ability is more than adequate for skiing multiple routes in the ravine. The other is based on my own info. In preparation for this trip I've been trying to scout out the toughest lines at the ridge at Jay and various parts of Sugarloaf. I can ski every marked and unmarked trail at these places with ease. Now here's the catch: I'm only fourteen. I might sound like I'm boasting, but I'm simply trying to let people know my abilities so i don't end up at the bowl and realise that i can't ski down. Now, my mom is all for this, but she cannot ski the ravine because she is only an intermediate skier. There is a possibility, though, of her walking up to lunch rocks and watching. The problem is that i cannot find anyone to go with. At my school, all the decent skiers are either away or they cant fathom the idea of earning their turns. So then, I basically have asked everyone i know if they will come up and ski it together and nobody would. So my final question is would anyone be comfortable taking me along? I know my age is kind of a problem because of my age, but please guys, your my last hope. (to sound cliched)

Nick

 

[andyzee]

I don't see the problem, just go with mom. She'll have a blast just sitting on lunch rocks taking in the whole scene.

 

[newenglandskier1]

I don't see the problem, just go with mom. She'll have a blast just sitting on lunch rocks taking in the whole scene.

well, she thinks that i need to do the actual skiing with someone, which in my opinions might not be a bad idea.

 

[MichaelJ]

Given that Tucks is basically just one big open bowl, and in good conditions it will likely be full of people, I would say you won't really be skiing "alone" anywhere in there. Latest photos of Tucks

In fact, speaking of people, this weekend is the Inferno so there will be a LOT of people there. And I think they set up a race course, too, so you need to stay clear of that.

The annual Tuckerman's Inferno Triathlon and Pentathlon, sponsored by Friends of Tuckerman, a non-profit organization founded to preserve the historic uses of Tuckerman Ravine, will be held April 18-20. The Tuckerman Inferno Pentathlon is New England's Premiere five event adventure sports race (Run, Kayak, Cycle, Hike, Backcountry, Ski). The race starts in the Mount Washington Valley and finishes in Tuckerman's Ravine. This is a great spectator event and a fabulous adventure for extreme sports fans.

 

[andyzee]

Given that Tucks is basically just one big open bowl, and it will likely be full of people, you won't really be skiing "alone" anywhere in there.

And mom would be able to see you where ever you ski.

 

[MichaelJ]

For the curious, here are the Inferno details. The main event itself is Saturday, but will draw a full-weekend crowd:

It starts in the frosty morning air with an 8.3 mile run from Glen to Bartlett, followed by a 7.5-mile kayak leg down the Saco River from Bartlett to North Conway. The kayaking leg is followed by an 18-mile bike ride from North Conway to Pinkham Notch. This ride is uphill most of the way, with over 2,000 feet of vertical rise. After the bike ride comes a 3.5 mile hike (and another 2,500-foot altitude gain) from Pinkham Notch to the bowl of Tuckerman Ravine, again, uphill almost every step of the way. And finally, there’s a climb-up, ski-down Giant Slalom ski or snowboard race, totaling about 600 vertical feet.

 

[atkinson]

The hike/ski leg of the Inferno is in Left Gully. Dr. Egan is up in the bowl, setting the course today. He was excited about how much snow there is, "We got the okay to use the sides like a giant half-pipe!"

Enjoy!

John

 

[MichaelJ]

Sweet. I can't wait to see the pix from this event!