how late is late?

[elwood]

Hello everyone on the board! I am new here, and have never skied Tucks. I am a short drive away over in Burlington, VT, but unfortunately won't be able to make it out there for a few weeks. I am wondering how late the season will go up there, and when do you guys think the last weekend will be. (Granted, I realize that is completely weather dependent...)

-Elwood

[TenSeven]

In my experience, all things being equal, I think that its safe to say that there will still be people skiing in the ravine through May.
My opinion only...that and a $1.35 will buy a large coffee from Tim Hortons.

[CHUCK]

I think I got the last day in last year on June 24th or so. It was the 3rd day of summer and there was enough snow for my buddies and I to make about 10-12 turns right next to the tuckerman ravine trail in the right of the bowl. It was glorius!! The care taker was shocked when we told him and he said we'll probally be the last ones up. I'm shooting for a day in July, it would be sweet. I'm heading up the 22-24. Can't wait!!!! Peace Chuck

[TheOctopus]

New to the board but 3-year veteran of Tucks....

I've never skied it before May 7 (hoping to change that this year), and I've been multiple times, in very different snow years, around Memorial Day. No one is skiing the headwall and right gully at that point, but Left Gully and Hillman's are still schweet. Chute (only other run I've skied in the Bowl) is questionable that late -- it'll get crevassed-up or be trenched-out from slough.

The short and sweet: weather on any given day aside, May in Tucks is worth the drive from Burlington.

-The Octopus

[<enzo>]

Tucks is worth the drive and hike even if there is only a 20 ft patch of snow!

Enjoy your trip.

[elwood]

Thanks for the info guys!

I'm planning my trip for the weekend of May 17th. Skiing Saturday and Sunday. I hope to see you guys there!!!

-elwood

[<Jerm>]

Late is a subjective word.
Latest turns for me were August 4, 2001.
The bowl is usually resonably skiable till mid June, then the runout melts out and you are no longer allowed to fall (so don't!). This season that may happen a few weeks earlier, so I'd plan on getting up there before Memorial Day.

[skicdave]

On average the season for most people ends towards the end of May (Memorial Day weekend or Victoria Day weekend for us Canadians). Beyond this the snow will have receeded just too much for most people to risk skiing Tucks. A fall can be disasterous as there is a good chance you'll end up slidding down into the nasty bolders that will be exposed. Then of course there are the crevasses and undermined snow to deal with.

If you want the sun, fun and thrills we see in the videos on T4T best bet is typically the first quarter of May... my two cents anyways.

I'm betting Elwood gets a prime weekend.

Some historical snow levels for end mid/end of May...

May 17, 1998
http://skicentral.com/gifs/tu9805a.jpg

May 20, 2000
http://timefortuckerman.com/gifs/ravine000520-1.jpg


Cheers!