Powder Hungry

[marc]

i havent been to tuckerman's yet but i plan on going this year. I'm having a friend that has been multiple times bring me and a couple others for a visit to the mountain. we all have snowboards and are interested in going during a time when there is some good deep powder left. i know the avalanches are the greatest issue, and we will not risk our lives (too much)for a nice ride down in the pow. anyone have any tips of when to go for these conditions, weather we need snow shoes with crampons or even if we should take an avalanche course before going. BTW we are all snowboarders (not sure if this is the best thing to say to a board full of skiiers!) and any specific tips would be awesome

thanks a lot! all of you keep up an awesome board

[Bannick]

marc:
BTW we are all snowboarders (not sure if this is the best thing to say to a board full of skiiers!) and any specific tips would be awesome

thanks a lot! all of you keep up an awesome board We are equal oppertunity snow sliders here Marc. Avi courses are always a good idea if you are going into avalanche country. I have been reading alot of articles here in vermont in the last week about the frequency of north east avalanches....they do happen and can claim lives.

B

[RR]

February is Primo Powder time at Tuck's. February has been known to have avvies once or more per day although it really varies year-by-year and day-by-day.

March is also good for powder, but the slides are way more dangerous on average, as they are much heavier due to the moisture content being typically higher.

Watch your topknot!

[TheOctopus]

Seriously consider taking an avalanche course, or getting some increased knowledge of avalanche awareness and prevention (a book entitled Snow Sense would be an excellent place to start). Tucks claims lives on a regular basis -- I was on the mountain (climbing the Lion Head winter route) a few years back on a day when someone was killed skiing in the Gulf of Slides (and his companion was partially burried). Being in some proximity to someone who lost his life in a slide is really sobering; please don't let it be a member of your own party.

As a bare minimum, if you're looking to ski pow in the ravine, I think each member of your party needs to have a beacon, probe, shovel and the skills to use them. Good luck and please be safe. (And powder is fun, but the much safer corn snow is better!)