The march is on.
Tuckerman Ravine season, the climb to the clouds, is underway and could last well into June as skiers, snowboarders and those seeing merriment head up to the bowl on the eastern shoulder of New Hampshire's Mount Washington.
What will the hikers find? Snow depths of nearly 60 feet and unpredictable weather are just two features waiting. There is also the danger of falling ice, open crevasses and avalanches.
The steep pitch of Tuckerman Ravine is legendary, and the three-hour, three mile climb to reach the bowl serves as a test of one's dedication to skiing. Lifts? Forget it. Grooming? No way. This is expert double diamond terrain with steep slopes -- which can reach a pitch of 55 degrees -- and narrow runs.
Want to see some of the best skiers in the east? They are in the Ravine. Pick a seat on Lunch Rocks, an area of boulders on the right bottom of the bowl and watch the games begin.
Skiers who tackle the headwall will have a vertical drop of 800 feet from the lip to the Ravine's floor. It gets progressively steeper, culminating in about a 50 degree pitch near the lip. The headwall is the most popular run. But snow conditions, time of day, snow depth and runout below are all factors in deciding where to ski.
Left Gully is a 55 degree chute that calls for snappy turns. Hillman Highway is the longest route at 1,500 feet, but it only averages about 50 feet in width.
This backcountry ski area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. During most seasons, some 35,000 hikers head into the Ravine. Reaching it requires mountaineering skill, and climbers may need to use winter mountaineering equipment like crampons and an ice ax.
Skiers who visit the west may come back with tales of helicopter skiing. That doesn't exist for Ravine rats. The Forest Service prohibits skiers from accessing the Ravine by mechanical means such as the private auto road, the Mount Washington Railway or helicopters. Until May 19 the Forest Service says there is only one way in for skiers, and that's the Tuckerman Ravine Trail from the Appalachian Mountain Club's Pinkham Notch Visitor Center.
Aside from the bowl's terrain, there are other potential dangers for the unaware, according to the AMC.
One is falling ice. Warming spring temperatures and strengthening sunshine combine to weaken layers of ice that cling to the Ravine's ledges in winter. It's not uncommon for car-sized chunks of ice to break away from the top of the Ravine and hurtle to the bowl below.
Weather in the Ravine is unpredictable. Due to Mount Washington's location in the midst of three major storm tracks, sunny skies can be replaced by pea soup fog, snow, overcast, rain or downright cold in a matter of minutes.
Is there shelter in the Ravine? No. Coming up? Then have rain gear and several layers of warm winter clothing made of wool or synthetic fibers. Cotton is a no-no. It dries slowly and steals heat from the body when wet with perspiration. Winter hiking boots should be worn to hike in the Ravine.
"Ski boots are inappropriate for hiking," said AMC public affairs director Rob Burbank.
Carry food. Carry water. Two to four quarts of liquid are recommended. The Ravine's steep, windswept slopes are prime for avalanches. Before heading up, check the avalanche reports posted at the AMC visitor center and Hermit Lake caretaker's cabin. Forest Service rangers are stationed in the Ravine to provide information on snow conditions, avalanche danger, and other dangers.
Avalanches are most common during or immediately following a snowstorm. Forest Service Snow Ranger Brad Ray advises skiers to avoid steep open slopes holding new snow. He also notes that skiers should heed posted warnings, and check for avalanche hazards in areas where conditions may not be posted. "Avalanches can be deadly. After 30 minutes, a person buried in an avalanche has less than a 50 percent chance of survival," Ray said.
Sunburn should also be on skier's minds. The highly reflective snow increases the risk and skiers should wear sunscreen.
Camping isn't allowed in the Cutler River Drainage, which includes Tuckerman Ravine and the land between Route 16 and the Mount Washington summit. Overnight shelter is available at the Hermit Lake Shelters at the base of the ravine.
White Mountain weather reports and information on avalanche conditions can be had by calling the AMC at (603) 466-2725 or the U.S. Forest Service Androscoggin Ranger District at (603) 466-2713.
Marty Basch is the author of the Arctic bicycling adventure, "Above the
Circle," which will be published in June. He is a free-lance writer living in
Mount Washington Valley, NH. Basch is also the author of "Against the Wind: A
Maine to Alaska Adventure" which can be sampled at
http://www.mountwashingtonvalley.com/top-of-the-world. Questions and comments
are welcome through "Feedback."
