Tuck's Advice

[gobig]

I will be in New England from about the 7th of April to the 15th, and would like to spend a few days riding Tuckerman's and elsewhere in the area. I need advice on what gear to bring. I grew up skiing in N.E. and have skied the ravine once before, when I was 16. I've lived in Montana since and am a pretty competant tele skier and snowboarder, with good backcountry and avalanche skills.
Skis or snowboard?
Which of my three functional tele set-ups would be best? I own old school skinny K2s w/ 3-pin bindings, shaped but narrow Volkls w/ cables, and really fat Atomics (not quite rock skis yet) w/ cables.
Do I need to bring climbing skins or will I be carrying my boards?
I'd like to spend a couple nights in the Hermit Lake shelters. Do I need a reservation?
Thanks
P.S. Anyone want to rip some turns with an out of towner?

[Castlerock]

Bring whatever you want. Just make sure you have good edges, as the snow can be really hard, or can turn hard as the shade comes across the bowl. One thing I'd bring is crampons and an ice axe. Very valuable as early April can be mid winter or refreeze conditions. The best runs are had when the corn is thin, and you climb up the still frozen snow before it warms.

You can skin up the trail, but as you probably remember you won't be doing much skinning up the gullies. Walkers beat skinners up to the bowl.

Reservations aren't allowed it is first come first served at the shelters.

There will be plenty of folks up there even mid week. You'll have partners. Maybe even me, as that is in my window of opportunity.