Gear List

So I've decided to hike to Tuckerman Ravine on Sunday. Before I go, I need to pack my gear. What will a typical hiker/skier need to launch an attack on the mountain? Let's go over my own gear list and see what I'll need to be safe and prepared.

Pack: Of course I'll need a somehwat large pack to carry everything. In addition, the pack has to be large enough and strong enough to carry my skis and boots, which can weigh 25 lbs by themselves.

Jacket, Hat, Gloves: Though the weather on Sunday calls for sun and warm temperatures, I'll need a winter gear to stay warm and safe. I plan on climbing to the top of Mount Washington, which is 6,288 feet above sea level. The mountain has some really terrible weather, and even if Sunday does dawn warm and sunny at the base of the mountain, temperatures at the top will be at least 15 degrees cooler. For every 1,000 feet gained in elevation, the temperature drops 3.3 degrees.

Ski Pants: I'll hike in shorts and a t-shirt, but I'll need heavy-duty ski pants for my ski descent of the mountain. I've skied in shorts before, and I can tell you that it's no fun when you fall.

Food: Hiking requires tons of energy, so I'll need lots of food. I'll pack a turkey sandwich, cookies, and granola bars for lunch. I'll also need lots of water. A combination of physical exertion, sunshine, and high elevation is sure to dehydrate me, even if I drink lots of water.

Map and Compass: The trail I plan to hike is very well marked and well traveled. Still, I will be going above treeline on the mountain, and that could be dangerous if fog or snow rolls in unexpectedly. In a treeless above-treeling expanse, I could easily lose my way in the fog and fall thousands of feet off a cliff. To prevent such a situation, I'll cary a map and compass. With both, I'll be able to find my way down the mountain even in the worst blizzard.

Overall, I expect my full pack, weighted down with gear and supplies, to weigh close to 45 pounds. I've done this hike before, and that's the typical weight. I'm pretty out of shape this year, so it should be interesting to see if I survive the hike on Sunday.

A Real Avalanche!

I was reading the Boston Globe when I came across a story about a recent avalanche on Mount Washington! Apparently two ice climbers were ascending a steep snow gulley across from Tuckerman Ravine when the slope underneath them gave way and started to slide down the mountain. The two men apparently fell 800 vertical feet, falling over a cliff before running into a grove of pine trees. Those two guys were really lucky to be survive the fall. Above you'll find the picture of where the two men fell.

What's even more amazing about this story is that the route the men were climbing is sometimes used by skiers! It's probably one of the more extreme routes in Tuckerman Ravine, and can only be skied when the conditions are just right. Some winters too little snow falls to cover the rocks and cliffs that line the route. When there's enough snow, skiers can negotiate the 55 degree slopes. Skiers call such a route a "no-fall zone," because if you fall, you die. If you read the story about the avalanche last weekend, you'll find that probably the only reason the men lived was because they were able to ride the avalanche's air cushion. If a regular skier had fallen in a similar spot, he or she probably would have just fallen over several cliffs and died.

This spring has been especially dangerous in Tuckerman Ravine. There has been relatively little snow in March and April, and cold temperatures have ensured icy conditions. Recent snowfall on top of icy slopes are a sure recipe for avalanches. The icy slopes create a frictionless bed on which the snow can slide. Fortunately for me, the weather is warming up, and the weekend looks pretty promising. Saturday looks to be cloudy, but the weather for Sunday looks clear, with temperatures in the sixties. I think I'll make my trip on Sunday.

Tuckerman Avalanche Advisories.

So I was doing some research online and I found an interesting site that gives avalanche advisories for Tuckerman Ravine. These advisories are very important. Every winter and spring, thousands of skiers, mountaineers, and ice climbers set out to climb Mount Washington. These people need to know what the exact snow and ice conditions are, in order to remain safe. Avalanches are pretty common in Tuckerman Ravine, since its slopes are steep, and hundreds of inches of snow fall on the mountain each year. Above, you'll see a picture of an avalanche running down Tuckerman Ravine; to the right of the avalanche itself, you'll see the skier that triggered the slide.

In order to avoid situations like this, the National Forest Service hires Snow Rangers to check Tuckerman Ravine on a daily basis. Each morning they hike into the bowl, dig a snow pit to assess snow stability, and determine whether the avalanche danger is one of five categories: Low, Moderate, Considerable, Certain, or Extreme. The rangers then post their report online, so that the day's hikers and skiers can assess the danger. Despite warnings of avalanche danger, there are no rules governing when someone can and cannot ski and hike on the mountain. Each hear dozens of people are injured in avalanches or icefalls on the mountain, and must be rescued. I've been keeping an eye on the reports, since I'm planning a trip up to the mountain this weekend. I hope to document a typical spring skiing experience for my multimedia journalism project. If temperatures warm and the snow appears safe, I'll be up there.

The Spring Skiing Season Has Begun

It's now the beginning of April, which means the spring skiing season has officially begun in New England. Unfortunately, early April is usually the time when the big ski areas close. They still have plenty of snow, but most people would rather be golfing or gardening when the days get warmer and longer, so most areas close down for the season. I've checked online, and tons of ski areas in northern New England have already stopped spinning their lifts. I certainly could go to Wildcat in New Hampshire, or Killington in Vermont for some late-season turns, but there's another, more intruiging option: Tuckerman Ravine. Each spring for the past several years, I've strapped my skis to my backpack and hiked up to Tuckerman's - a wild backcountry bowl high up on New Hampshire's Mount Washington. There are no lifts to get there - just leg power. I've been trying to plan a trip up there this spring, but the weather hasn't been too cooperative. To ensure a really successful trip to Tuckerman Ravine, you need nice, warm weather and sunny skies. The nice weather makes for soft snow, which is an essential component to ensuring a safe and fun trip to the mountains. For the past few weeks, however, we've had rain and chilly temperatures. While it wasn't a big deal in Boston, high atop Mount Washington the conditions have created hard-packed snow, which is not at all conducive to a nice backcountry skiing experience. I'll have to keep my eyes on the forecast. Once I see a break in the weather and some warmer temperatures, I'll get into my car and drive up north to the mountain.