Best Case - Worst Case

[PontiMax]

Shooting to make another trip up to Tucks this spring. With the conditions I experienced on the weekend of the 19th, I would venture to say it will still be a fun trip for a while yet.....(it is fun any way you look at it, but can one still get some good turns in during mid to late may?). Am I wrong? What is the latest date anyone can recall a spring season at Tucks lasting?

Hey thanks to Dave I am now famous. My picture is in the April 19th Photo Spectacular ....man I need to get a good agent now. Actually, I mean a good chiropractor after the spill I took huffin' down the chute. Just kidding, but i did take a nice wipe though. It was my initiation.

My deepest regards,

PontiMax

[skicdave]

Hey Pontimax,

Still wondering if I video'd your wipeout... depends on when you did so. Did you fall before or after Naked Guy 2003. Were you before or after Rag Doll Wipeout (http://timefortuckerman.com/videos.html) ?

Latest I would suggest for most people to ski the bowl is about the 3rd week in May (on average). Beyond that you MUST have a helmet and falling is NOT an option.

For anyone new to skiing Tucks, I wouldn't suggest trying skiing it for the first time if its past early May. There are just too many hazards to deal with such as nasty crevasses, rock walls, bolders, undermined snow, sluffs, runnels, heavy sloppy spring snow conditions. Once the snow in the floor of the ravine receeds, falling can be devastating to your well being.

I have also been hiking up on Mount Washington (July 17, 1997 to be exact) and came across 2 boarders above the headwall, who had just finished riding the bowl for the day. They were headed up to the summit to get their ride back down to Pinkham. Now talk about dangerous conditions! You can't tell that much from this photo I took looking from above the lip over towards Left Gully and The Chute, but here is what the ravine looked like that day...

http://skicentral.com/gifs/tuckjul.jpg

[Mumster]

skicdave:



For anyone new to skiing Tucks, I wouldn't suggest trying skiing it for the first time if its past early May. There are just too many hazards to deal with such as nasty crevasses, rock walls, bolders, undermined snow, sluffs, runnels, heavy sloppy spring snow conditions. Once the snow in the floor of the ravine receeds, falling can be devastating to your well being.


Hey Dave:

Glad you mentioned this - we were aiming for the end of the May for a first trip up...I'm inclined to move the date. I don't feel brave enough to face those hazards the first time up. :o

[targheehucker]

skimom--

you should def aim for next week (may 10th) for an enjoyable trip. anything later and I regret it will not be that great unless there is a freak snowstorm

[Skilasnow]

I must concur! I am 80% likely for weekend on 10th and hoping that a trip over the lip is still possible. I will be quite pleased with a few runs in the bowl either way :) since my last trip was a total blow-out :(

[SkiStooge]

You mean to tell me that it's better to go when there is more snow than rocks? And all this time I've been ripping the bases on my skis up skiing the rocks? lol Have fun, be safe. Al Also, a not too bad idea that I don't usually remember: Bring your oldest, crappiest planks that can still hold an edge if it's getting late in the season. You don't cry as much at the end of the day when you look and realize that you are going to have a heavy P-tex bill before your next tune. :cool:

[Mumster]

targheehucker:
skimom--

you should def aim for next week (may 10th) for an enjoyable trip. anything later and I regret it will not be that great unless there is a freak snowstorm Thanks targheehucker and Skilas. I'm scrambling to rearrange our schedules..... 50% chance we will see you there. :D

[PontiMax]

so beyond the 10th tucks is in a bad state of summer deterioration. will play it by ear and firt hand accounts of the condtions then on making a second trip. thanks.

PontiMax

[PontiMax]

oh yeah dave, i was after the naked guy. my wipe occured in the section where the chute funnels into the rest of the bowl.

regards,

PontiMax

[CHUCK]

I say "If theres snow, might as well go!"
last year i rode on the 3rd day of summer. only 10 turns or so but i did it.
peace chuck

[half-fast]

depends on the amount of snow that particular year-I was there around the 20th of May, 2001 and it was great. the lip was melted out, but everything else was in good shape. here's some photos (not by me) of 5/20/01: http://users.rcn.com/charland/tuckermans.html