tucks in early march?

[dan leiter]

i'm planning a ski trip to the whites mar. 7-14. cannon, wildcat, loon, etc. have had a lifelong ambition to ski tucks. is this advisable or even possible? most reports i read take place apr/may. what can i expect if i go this time of year?

[skicdave]

Hi Dan, Welcome to the board!

Certainly April and May are more popular times. Going earlier might mean more avalanche hazards and no doubt less traffic (hand full of people in the bowl instead of the typical hundreds in the spring). I've never been in March myself. Would certainly recommend going with someone else who is familar with Tucks.

Even at times when avalanche dangers are a problem, there is still a great ride down from the base of the ravine, down the little headwall and down the Sherburne trail to the base at Pinkham Notch. You can aways call ahead to Pinkham for a report before going. 603-466-2721.

Have a great trip!

[notjustanotherboarder]

In march the snow tends to be much better, as is Jan and Feb. If you do get curious, you can alwasy hike to Hojos and see the revine from there. The Rangers always post the avy danger at http://www.mountwashington.org/avalanche/, at hojos and at Pinkham Notch.

Before you venture into the ravine, talk with the rangers and verify that the avy level is "Low" (Since you don't have any avy experience, education and/or gear). Easy, tell-tell signs of when not to even hike up is if it is raining, it has snowed in the last 24 hours and/or if it has been really windy in the last 24 hours. Any of these conditions creat unstable snow. What make it even harder to tell what it is going to be like is that the weather in the ravine can and often is 180 degrees from what it is a the lodge.

If you do hike to hojos, you can alway ski/ride the Sherburne ski trail all the way back down to the parking lot. Don't forget to bring extra layers, no matter how warm is is in the parking lot!!!!