Great Gulf and Snowfields from auto road

[awf170]

Hey, this is my first post but i have been lurking around for a while, i was wondering if anyone has info on skiing off the auto road once it opens(may 7), i have never been skiing on mt. washington, but from what i see the uppers snowfields and the great gulf looks awsome... so how would the snow cover be up there and where can u park, just looking for any info(the reason is im not going to ski tux is my dad doesnt want to walk all the way up there and i have no1 else to ski with) but hey it doesnt bother me to ski off the auto road, less hiking.

[loafnut]

I posted a TR for the great gulf off the auto road last year. You can search for that. There are numerous pull-offs you can park in off the auto road. Snowcover is highly variable. GG can be longer than tucks in the spring, but often isent.

[awf170]

do you need crampons, or is there like steps like in tuxs

[loafnut]

no steps. I didnt have crampons and i just made my own steps.

[awf170]

how steep is it compared to something like white nitro

[JayTux]

I think it's still pretty steep, but not as steep as tucks. As for the snowfields, they are melting out fast, and with this rain they won't last too long. Check www.tuckerman.org for snowfield photos...GG could be good though.

:skierpetrified:

[awf170]

I think it's still pretty steep, but not as steep as tucks. As for the snowfields, they are melting out fast, and with this rain they won't last too long. Check www.tuckerman.org for snowfield photos...GG could be good though.

:skierpetrified:

im scared to look at the cam on those snowfields once this rain ends... it will probably look pretty grim
:cry:

[Castlerock]

Don't worry the skiing will be there.

The Tuckerman.org photos will have the south snow fields, not the east snowfields that are accessed by the autoroad. They are different. The south melts out much sooner due to its exposure. THe east snow field lasts later in the season

As for where to park, the road must be open to the summit first. Don't even try it if the road is only open to timberline, then there is no parking. The parking for skiing is 800 yards or so below the summit. You can't miss it. You can also park at the summit and walk down.

Crampons are a function of the weather. Bring'em if you got em. If it is cold , you'd be crazy not to have em. An iceaxe is also good. There can be a boot ladder, especially on Airplane.

Don't even start trying to compare Pipeline, Airplane et al, to a lame inbounds trail. It is a whole different animal.

With regards to it being "easier" to take the auto road. Yes it is easier to get to Great Gulf via the Auto road than from Pinkham or Faybian's, but you have to earn every inch of your skiing and more. Once you ski the Gulf you have to climb back to where you started skiing and then a mile uphill back to the car. If physical strength is an issue stick to the snowfield.

Here is a link to a TRGreat Gulf May03 (http://timefortuckerman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1534)

[awf170]

ya i think the first day i will try the snowfields and see how i do, then the next day do the great gulf if everything goes well

[loafnut]

The parts of GG ive done are way steeper than white nitro, not even a comparison. They were not as steep as tucks though.

[awf170]

The parts of GG ive done are way steeper than white nitro, not even a comparison. They were not as steep as tucks though.

thanks for the info, so do you think all this rain will do some damage to it, like rivers running down ruining the run. now i just need to hope the auto road opens on the 7th. Do you know if they ussualy open top to bottom or the first week the just open the bottom half?

[Mumster]

I think the GG is even more awesome than TR. It's much less crowded, and the views are spectacular. The main negative is exactly what Castlerock said - at TR you hike, then ski, so you can be sure you only hike up what you can ski down. At the GG, you ski down first. The only way out is to hike back up. So you don't have a preview of what you are skiing down, and you can't control how far up you go. The snow conditions are usually better there than those at TR in May and June.
Castlerock is an expert on the GG, and probably he or one of our other T4T fanatics will get out there quickly and detail the conditions. Don't forget the :camera:. I hope I get there this spring... :skiplow:

[jdw]

Here is a link to a TRGreat Gulf May03 (http://timefortuckerman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1534)

That was a fun day - even on 5/17, Airplane ran almost to the lake ( bit of shrubbery notwithstanding) - 90% sure I saw you though I was just a lurker back then....

One thing I lwys noted was that Airplane and Pipeline have a more western feel to them - narrow, rock-lined couloirs. I'm not sure what it is about Tuckerman, but despite the big, wide-open bowl and having a lot of similar traits to a large western, above-treeline bowl, it just feels different (and it should!). You could pull the lines in the GG and put them in the west and they'd fit right in. Hard to quantify.

[awf170]

anyone know how they will be after all this rain, the summit got inches of snow in the past 9 days, but also probably 9 inches on rain, just wondering how everything will be up there

[JayTux]

anyone know how they will be after all this rain, the summit got inches of snow in the past 9 days, but also probably 9 inches on rain, just wondering how everything will be up there


Great Gulf will still be nice, but the snowfields I am pretty sure will be getting smaller. Here they are on http://www.tuckerman.org/photos/tucks/A%2004-26-2005%20Eastern%20Snowfields.JPG.

Keep checking www.tuckerman.org and take the :camera:

[awf170]

Great Gulf will still be nice, but the snowfields I am pretty sure will be getting smaller. Here they are on http://www.tuckerman.org/photos/tucks/A%2004-26-2005%20Eastern%20Snowfields.JPG.

Keep checking www.tuckerman.org and take the :camera:

i heard the cog side can hold the snow longer, i know some one who went up last year and said there was no snow on the front sdie but next to the cog it was still pretty good, how is that terrian, like how steep

[JayTux]

i heard the cog side can hold the snow longer, i know some one who went up last year and said there was no snow on the front sdie but next to the cog it was still pretty good, how is that terrian, like how steep

Not sure about the terrian or steeps. I can imagine its rocky so there will probably be rocks showing, but yes that side can hold the snow longer. Not sure of the steepness though.

[ATP]

The parts of GG ive done are way steeper than white nitro, not even a comparison. They were not as steep as tucks though.


WARNING - by not as steep as Tucks, he means the lip, headwall, sluice, chute, etc. (i.e., the really steep stuff). There are lines in Tucks that are easier than what the Gulf offers, and like others said, you don't get to check out the slope first. That rollover on airplane can be scary the first time, and there's more exposure in the Gulf than in some parts of the bowl. If you go on a slide for life, you're more likely to hit something hard, and there won't be friendly rangers hanging out to cart you away.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from going. Just want to make sure you're clear on how the areas compare.

[DMC]

I gotta be honest - this whole thread scares me...

The GG is a lot different then the bowl... I think - more oppurtunities to kill yourself over there...

[Castlerock]

What I don't understand is how the west side of the Presidentials can hold snow longer than the east side.

Two reasons it is wrong:

1.) The prevailing winds are westerlies. They scour the west side and dump the snow on the east. Hence Tucks gets 100 feet of snow.

2.) The afternoon sun bakes the west side. More melting sooner. It is common knowlege that North and East exposures hold snow longer than South and West.

[Castlerock]

I gotta be honest - this whole thread scares me...

The GG is a lot different then the bowl... I think - more oppurtunities to kill yourself over there...

And no volunteer ski patrol

[DMC]

And blind skiing off the auto road...

[Affix Snow]

What I don't understand is how the west side of the Presidentials can hold snow longer than the east side.

Two reasons it is wrong:

1.) The prevailing winds are westerlies. They scour the west side and dump the snow on the east. Hence Tucks gets 100 feet of snow.

2.) The afternoon sun bakes the west side. More melting sooner. It is common knowlege that North and East exposures hold snow longer than South and West.

Aren't the actual LINES (airplane, pipeline) facing North, or am i backwards? Are they protected my the surrounding cliffs?

Ive never been, so im just guessing here.....

[Castlerock]

I was referring to the earlier nonsense in the thread about the cog-side holding snow longer.

Great Gulf itself heads NNE from the summit. THe skiable lines are along the western side of the gulf having a NE or ENE exposure. And they get all the snow that gets blown up the western side of MT Clay.

[Affix Snow]

I was referring to the earlier nonsense in the thread about the cog-side holding snow longer.

Great Gulf itself heads NNE from the summit. THe skiable lines are along the western side of the gulf having a NE or ENE exposure. And they get all the snow that gets blown up the western side of MT Clay.

Got ya! My fault.

I need to get over there.

Thanx for the directional clarification.

[jdw]

Aren't the actual LINES (airplane, pipeline) facing North, or am i backwards? Are they protected my the surrounding cliffs?

Ive never been, so im just guessing here.....
airplane - NE
pipeline - ENE

pipeline more protected by cliffs than airplane. pipeline both sides of the chute, airplane, just skier's left for the first 1/2, then no cliffs.

The notion of the west side holding longer just isn't so for exactly the reasons Castlerock pointed out. Wasn't the original comment that someone had 'heard that west held longer...', anyway? :)

of course, in the time it takes me to post this, someone will hve already answered...

[Castlerock]

airplane - NE
pipeline - ENE

pipeline more protected by cliffs than airplane. pipeline both sides of the chute, airplane, just skier's left for the first 1/2, then no cliffs.

The notion of the west side holding longer just isn't so for exactly the reasons Castlerock pointed out. Wasn't the original comment that someone had 'heard that west held longer...', anyway? :)

of course, in the time it takes me to post this, someone will hve already answered...

LOL!

I hope to see you up there over the next couple weekends. Any news on the road opening? The web site hasn't said anything lately

[Castlerock]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to jdw again.

[jdw]

LOL!

I hope to see you up there over the next couple weekends. Any news on the road opening? The web site hasn't said anything lately

still heard the 8th is opening day. like always, they won't know 100% unil that day... i imagine the rain helped remove some of the snow on the road, but didn't really help much with stabilization. small chance i'm up on the 8th. good chance of following w/e. decent chance next thurs. (you riding up in that Cayenne again? need a nav?)

[elwood]

Cayenne? Castlerock, you have a Cayenne? Take me for a ride?

I'm planning on the weekend of the 14th, with good weather.

[Castlerock]

I don't know why they aren't trying for the 7th. I'm SOL on the 8th. I'm attempting to keep the following weekend free as well.Thursday?....Hmmmm.

Anyway, the Cayenne was a sweet ride for the day, but it wasn't mine. My ski partner of the day was a Porsche/Audi dealer! I did get an Audi from him though.

[Castlerock]

Nice ride for the Auto Road

http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/142cayenne-med.jpg

Elwood, either day a preference for you or just weather.

[elwood]

I'll be up on Friday night, staying through the weekend. So no preference, just going to see what happens. If you can only make one day, I'll be sure to go up with ya.

[Skilasnow]

GG and Auto-road
The Great Gulf a WAYYY steeper and gnarlier than anything you have ever even looked at inbounds in the East. The chutes are narrow, rock-lined, and often end on scree and rocks or cliffs. When I skied Pipeline last end o' May, an uncontrolled slide would have led to many broken bones, assuming I survived at all, as it ended in a cliff. The Great Gulf is a no-fall zone, there is no-one to help you like there is at Tucks if you do fall.

From your questions, I am not very pleased about the idea of you going over there. No offense intended, I don't know what kind of skier you are, but you haven't asked how it compares to Tucks or any other BC skiing. Have you skied Tucks?

If you answered no, PLEASE go there first and ski the steepest, gnarliest thing there, if you can handle that no problem, then the GG awaits, if you can't ski everything in Tucks, GG awaits to kick your ass.

[Skilasnow]

All that said, I'm planning on being in the gulf this weekend with Rainman, if the road opens.

[Huckasaurass]

All that said, I'm planning on being in the gulf this weekend with Rainman, if the road opens.


Sound like you might have to be the "tour guide"

Matt

[Skilasnow]

Sound like you might have to be the "tour guide"

Matt
I'm not guide material.

[DMC]

I'm not guide material.

Don't sell youself short... think about the dinners you'd prepare for your group!!!

[Skilasnow]

Don't sell youself short... think about the dinners you'd prepare for your group!!!
Yeah, $100 a head, you in?

[Huckasaurass]

Yeah, $100 a head, you in?

whatcha cooking? :D

Matt

[DMC]

Yeah, $100 a head, you in?


You carry the food - cook it and pack it out...

I'm in!!! ;)

I'll even pump some H2O for you....

[Skilasnow]

You carry the food - cook it and pack it out...

I'm in!!! ;)

I'll even pump some H2O for you....
Hmmm... anyone else?

4 people, 3 course meal, I'd do that.

And I aint talkin' burgers and chili dogs

[Huckasaurass]

Hmmm... anyone else?

4 people, 3 course meal, I'd do that.

And I aint talkin' burgers and chili dogs


I'd seriously consider it ;)

Matt

[awf170]

First about the cog side holding snow i just heard about that and it didnt make too much sense to me thats why i brought it up, and i looked at a topo and saw it was is pretty flat unless u go way down and by then there will be no snow probably.
And after hearing about the great gulf i wont go in now unless i go to tucks first, i was just curious about it. Ill probably just go ski the upper snowfields off the auto road.

[elwood]

Hmmm... anyone else?

4 people, 3 course meal, I'd do that.

And I aint talkin' burgers and chili dogs
Count me in. I like food!

[Castlerock]

BTW as it has been said. The terrain is "easier" than the serious runs at Tucks. Once you comfortably ski Tucks from above the bowl (Hillmand doesn't count) and can climb in that environment. Then head on over.

Hell go to Tucks this weekend, and if you like it go to GG the next.

[jdw]

BTW as it has been said. The terrain is "easier" than the serious runs at Tucks. Once you comfortably ski Tucks from above the bowl (Hillmand doesn't count) and can climb in that environment. Then head on over.

amazing - I decided to check if anyone had responded before posting this time. you beat me to it again. i'm highly amused.

Summit snowfields are about as safe as you can get on washington without a cog railway. all the usual caveats are there though.

[awf170]

BTW as it has been said. The terrain is "easier" than the serious runs at Tucks. Once you comfortably ski Tucks from above the bowl (Hillmand doesn't count) and can climb in that environment. Then head on over.

Hell go to Tucks this weekend, and if you like it go to GG the next.

ya i would love to go up to tucks but i dont think i could convince my dad to hike up there, hes to lazy.

[elwood]

ya i would love to go up to tucks but i dont think i could convince my dad to hike up there, hes to lazy.
Than he shouldn't be skiing the GG. There is plenty of hiking to be done, and you most certainly earn your turns there...

[awf170]

Than he shouldn't be skiing the GG. There is plenty of hiking to be done, and you most certainly earn your turns there...

ya i know but havent told him that, he just thinks it is off the auto road, and if we started to hike down i would just tell him it is a little bit further. It stamina is not a problem it is just that for some reason he doesnt want to hike to ski, hell hike a lot in the summer but not get to skiing, i dont understand it :confused:

[Castlerock]

ya i know but havent told him that, he just thinks it is off the auto road, and if we started to hike down i would just tell him it is a little bit further. It stamina is not a problem it is just that for some reason he doesnt want to hike to ski, hell hike a lot in the summer but not get to skiing, i dont understand it :confused:

Snowfields!

[Justin]

how steep is it compared to something like white nitro
Sounds like you'll be surprised at the very least -- it's steeper for sure (alot). Comparing any of the ravines/gulfs to anything lift serve in the east is beyond a "apples and oranges" thing. Not to spoil your fun but if your dad isn't willing to hike, I'd question weather he should be skiing.

be safe, have blast...

[JayTux]

Sounds like you'll be surprised at the very least -- it's steeper for sure (alot). Comparing any of the ravines/gulfs to anything lift serve in the east is beyond a "apples and oranges" thing. Not to spoil your fun but if your dad isn't willing to hike, I'd question weather he should be skiing.

be safe, have blast...

Right on. I was up at Tux with my dad and he has always been willing to hike to ski but when we were 2/3 of the way up the lip both he and I were like, "Ugh, I need my crampons and ice axe, and this is steeper than anything I've ever seen." I can't help but feel if your dad doesn't want to hike, he shouldn't ski, at least in GG. Having never been there myself, I cant say it with justice, but obviously you have to hike after skiing, so there is NO TURNING BACK once you've pointed 'em and gone. At Tux, you can say, "Okay, this is as far as I'll go."

Especially if you and him have never been to Tux. If you have, more rep to ya, but I think the snowfields are obviously to be skied before GG and you should see how things go there before venturing to anything of a higher level.

Be safe, be smart, have fun! Take the :camera: !

:)

[DMC]

At Tux, you can say, "Okay, this is as far as I'll go."



Thats not really true... It's dependent on a place to transition... Some places have great spots to put skis on - others.... not so many... :)

[awf170]

ya so ill probably just do the snowfields, i dont really ? my skiing in GG it is more of my hiking ability going up something so steep because i never really hiked up something very steep in boots. The only thing i really hiked up with boots was mt. baldy at snowbird and looking off the edge was :eek: , after that though it was the best run of my life :)

[JayTux]

Thats not really true... It's dependent on a place to transition... Some places have great spots to put skis on - others.... not so many... :)

Your right. I did miss that. Sorry, trying to balance homework with the occasional check of a number of websites here.

What DMC said is 100% true, if you are alone on a steep slope, you can't just throw your ski on without first anchoring it or something. My dad and I were actually able to put our skis on in the chute on a steep slope by having the lower one of us hold one ski for the upper person, so they could step into it, then they could easily step into their other and then help the lower person put theirs on. But if you are alone, ugh, well, yes it can indeed be tough.

:)

[JayTux]

ya so ill probably just do the snowfields, i dont really ? my skiing in GG it is more of my hiking ability going up something so steep because i never really hiked up something very steep in boots. The only thing i really hiked up with boots was mt. baldy at snowbird and looking off the edge was :eek: , after that though it was the best run of my life :)

Hiking up steeps is a little nerveracking. But if you know how to self arrest and have crampons it can be easier. Don't do something your not comfortable with though, you could look down by accident and :gasp: :cry: :doh: :eek: :justdoit:

Have fun dude!

[M@]

My dad and I were actually able to put our skis on in the chute on a steep slope by having the lower one of us hold one ski for the upper person, so they could step into it, then they could easily step into their other and then help the lower person put theirs on.
Now this is somethign I have never seen, nor would I have invented on my own. Way to help the progeny!

M@

[elwood]

My dad and I were actually able to put our skis on in the chute on a steep slope by having the lower one of us hold one ski for the upper person, so they could step into it, then they could easily step into their other and then help the lower person put theirs on.
The only thing about that is you are not secure there. If one of you falls, you are probably both going to take a tumble. I personally would not want to do that.

[awf170]

nevermind im not going up there anymore, why would i wont to hike when i ski lifted served at bretton woods, on 3 trails!!! and look at the beautiful brown snow http://www.brettonwoods.com/alpineski/index.cfm?edit_id=56
;) ;) ;) ;)

[DMC]

The only thing about that is you are not secure there. If one of you falls, you are probably both going to take a tumble. I personally would not want to do that.

Excellent point...

[JayTux]

The only thing about that is you are not secure there. If one of you falls, you are probably both going to take a tumble. I personally would not want to do that.

True. I guess that didn't really hit either of us. But I was so tired by then, oh man. There was an established boot track, but yeah, you're right, I defiantly would've taken him out if I had fallen.

You're making me feel really stupid now! ;)

:)

[awf170]

ahh finally found a good comparison to the GG, the GG is 40-45 degrees and high rustler at alta is 41 degrees and probably about the same lenght, anyone correct me if any of this seems wrong, I didnt have any problem skiing high rustler but hiking that... probably not :eek:

[PWDR8S]

Hiking sounds like an exhuastive venture.... BUT you'ld be all pumped up from adreneline.

[awf170]

Hiking sounds like an exhuastive venture.... BUT you'ld be all pumped up from adreneline.

stupid hiking, they should just build a high speed 8 pack heated gondola going up mt washington... oh ya with radios in every cabin, then run the cog so u can take that to the top too, :D ;)

[elwood]

stupid hiking, they should just build a high speed 8 pack heated gondola going up mt washington... oh ya with radios in every cabin, then run the cog so u can take that to the top too, :D ;)
Be careful, or someone might want to smack you... ;)

[Justin]

ahh finally found a good comparison to the GG, the GG is 40-45 degrees and high rustler at alta is 41 degrees and probably about the same lenght, anyone correct me if any of this seems wrong, I didnt have any problem skiing high rustler but hiking that... probably not :eek:
Much different, HR is steep (at first) but it levels out faster (yes i've skied it) and it doesn't have the rocks/chutes GG has. Skied traffic packs HR down purdy good too, i'd image it's easier to hike that.

[PWDR8S]

Be careful, or someone might want to smack you... ;) Like this?http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/1659thwak.gif
or http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/1659gangup1.gif


Wash that mouth out! http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/1659furious.gif Ohhh the obsenities! Lift service?....sheesh!

[awf170]

Like this?http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/1659thwak.gif
or http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/1659gangup1.gif


Wash that mouth out! http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/1659furious.gif Ohhh the obsenities! Lift service?....sheesh!

and plow the auto road for the whole winter :D :D :D :D :D

[PWDR8S]

OK OK... The flag is raised...http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/1659bsflag.gif

I shall fart in your general direction http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/500/1659fart.gif

[NtrentT]

Be careful, or someone might want to smack you... ;)

Hardy Har Har :D

http://www.marshallpictures.com/marisas_art/funny_face1.jpg