any plans to hit tucks in winter

[two planker]

I hear alot of talk about spring skiing does any one ever hit tucks in winter? I know the weather is crazy but sounds like some good turns can be had.

[loafnut]

The problem with winter is the high avalanche risk... that said im thinking of hitting it midwinter this year.

[RR]

ditto...crank up the DIN and rip long.

Avvy is likely on all powder days, so I'll be skinning highside up Hillmans's and scoping the situation. If the Headwall-Sliuce slab hasn't released I'll stick to the snowfields and HH until it has gone.

Early to mid-February is when my target window for PresiPow opens...good powder is usually found there in March as well. Getting into April there's a high probability of PresiCement after 10AM on the East Faces.

[DMC]

RR:
Avvy is likely on all powder days, so I'll be skinning highside up Hillmans's and scoping the situation. I'm sure you know this already but Hillmans has been the site of some pretty nasty slides..

A couple years ago there was huge pile of debris at the base...

I like the plan though!

[RR]

So right DMC!

The east side approaches are all problematic:

The Lion's Head Winter trail is way tough without carrying skis, with skis the section in the last 300 (vert) feet in the trees is barely possible with snowshoes...that rooty/steep section will be all about swimming uphill wearing crampons and carrying both 'shoes and skis!

Skinning up the Auto road would work, but that's a long slog with no veiws of Tucks and no update on Avvy conditions. Better than swimming the Lion's Head though!

[DMC]

I need to practice more skinning on my split board.

I think it's possible to get some skiing in even if avi danger is not good.. We'd have to ski mellower stuff, that's not exposed and anchored a little ... maybe...

Really a call that's made on the spot though - so I should shut up :)

[RR]

Good skinning and good sliding are all that count when the BC bug bites. Even though I'm not getting any younger, I'd rather try again another day than risk my carcass or anyone else's.

Let's go sliding when we get the chance!

[DMC]

Cool... I love riding with telemarkers...!(I assume you tele)

Something about that turn that makes me gasp. One big long ski edge floating....

I may try and tele again this year..

[RR]

Tele now and then, AT sometimes, regular Yo-Yo locked heel too...never tried sideways, unless you count that season fooling around with a "snurfer" board...or the standing toboggan runs.

diversity is awesome! I enjoy watching the kids fool around in the terrain parks...one plank-two planks: trying stuff that will raise the baseline for all sliders.

[NH_tele]

I'd like to head up to Tucks in the winter sometime too, although I'll probably just end up skiing the Shurburne trail; I have 0 avalanche knowledge (hoping to remedy that this winter with a course, however). Anyway, I'm sure that, with the right knowledge & equipment, Tucks must have some awesome skiing in winter months!

[bfast]

The best way to avoid avalanche is to pull a Toni Matt and schuss the wall -no slope cutting and if it does let go, you outrun it! Really though, this is recruitment for the 'Ski to Die' club.You need to know your avy-super-savy, and still be able to walk away from tempting but dangerous powder runs.There is still no guarantee even after snow pit tests, etc. I believe it was Albert Dow who died IN THE TREES around Lion's head more or less while on a search and rescue mission.

[notjustanotherboarder]

DMC,

Just a reminder, I'm gonna plan to be up there the Sat. after Thanksgiving and the 2nd Sat of Dec. I'm not expecting the best conditions. Its a bit early. But, hopefully there will be enough snow to get down to the Parking lot by the second trip. If so, I'll be working on my Splitboard skinning skills also-I've got another big trip down to SA for next Sept. And I'm gonna need to be able to keep up :)

[RR]

Taking the Kreitler line down the headwall should take a skier out of harm's way:

Summit start using long arcs biased towards the Chute Variations next to the Center Headwall, bending twoards the mid Sluice from above and about 100 meters back from the Icefall, then taking a slow right arc, passing by the edge of the Icefall and then passing back under the Icefall at the level of Lunch Rocks then bending left down along the runnout, more or less aiming at the TRVSP cache.

Two things to always avoid: cutting the cornice above Headwall/Sluice; cutting the slabs that always form above the lip in a line below the cornice. The line I mentioned above does take the rider/skier first well above and then well below those formations, but keeps clear of them.

I have watched 3 avvies in the Ravine, all three ran in the Cornice slide path. One ran to 100 meters below Lunch Rocks. That one did not involve the cornice, just the slabs, the cornice was barely visible at the time. It was deliberatly started by a ski traverse of the upper slab. One of the others was a Cornice break and it splashed Lunch Rocks big time.

Getting off the slide path is the best approach, a Tuckerman avvy you can't outrun will probably bury you...not good.