from top to bottom (plan)

[s2oleary]

Ok i have never been to tucks. i am thinking i pull into the parking lot and head to "ho jo's"
how long will this take and what type of hike is it, will snow shoes be needed?
i then see if i can reserve a hut or lean-to or somthing???? I do want to stay the night ?

so then it is on to lunch rocks? were i can gear down and head up the wall with the skies and try a run or two? then i pack up again and head toward "ho-Jo's" (on skies) then spend the night some were there, Tent? then maybe try it again sunday. or use this as a back up plan incase saturday is bad weather we will be there for sunday.

other questions crampons?
hiking poles, snow shoes, anything else?

if some one would out line a trip like this for me i would be very appreciative
thanks.
also i am contimplating an early march attempt? oppinions there?
ok thanks

[skicdave]

HoJo's is About 1hr 45min to 2 hours... your mileage will vary depending on the trail conditions, weather, your physical condition etc.

From HoJo's up into the ravine is about 40min.

You can stay at Hermit Lake (lean-toos and tent platforms) which is just below HoJo's. You must check in at the Pinkham Notch Visitors center to reserve a spot.

If you plan on an overnight stay, you'll have to lug up all your gear to Hermit Lake first.

Crampons are usually a good idea. Ski poles replace hiking poles.

Snowshoes aren't needed (unless their was a big dump of snow the night before).

There is tons of other usual info across this site, as well as posted here on the board.

[s2oleary]

Skicdave thanks for the great info some more questions i was unable to locate on my own

when we pull into the paringlot ( is this at pinkhams notch?)

the car is fine over night we then make our reservations and proceed to hike to hermit lake leen toos? drop off the over night gear that takes us approx 2 hrs.
then we will pass ho jo's (what type of facility is ho jos) do they have water there etc.?
from ho jos we continue 40 min or so into the base of the ravine?

and it will take us about another hour to get to the top of the head wall?

from the base of the ravine to the top of it what is the vertical and how long of a ski run is it from top to bottom. and also can we ski from the base of the ravine back to the lean toos, if we dont get a leen to what are the other lodging options can we pitch a tent?
and if so do they allow fire's there?
is there any were to find a map of the area so i could see where every thing is in relation to each other, and the route we might hike?


what do you recomend for a start time to head up in the morning and what time should we be headed back toward hermit lake?
this may seem like alot of questions but i just want to get the bases coverd before i head up i understand this is no joke.
thanks again for the great info!!!

[skicdave]

Ok lets see...

Yes the parking lot is at Pinkham Notch. Remember to purchase a parking pass inside the visitors centre.

If all the lean-toos/tent platforms are taken, you're out of luck and will have to spend nights off mountain (Joe Dodge center at Pinkham or camp/hotel it nearby - Gorham or North Conway areas). Hermit Lake can accommodate up to 86 people, and includes 8 lean-toos and 3 tent-platforms. You can only reserve a spot at Hermit Lake by going to the Pinkham Notch Visitors Center in person ($8/night per person). Its not usually too busy except in the spring and on long weekends.

No sure about water at HoJo's... its not really a facility, and serves as a caretaker's cabin and outpost for Tuckerman Ravine. They do have some supplies available however for Joe Public. For fires, bring your stove.

Yes about 40 minutes to get to the base of the ravine from Hermit Lake.

You can get the the top of the headwall from the base in about 30 minutes (all depends on your physical condition and of course the conditions in the ravine).

From the top of the headwall it is an hour+ to get to the summit (an option in March/early April - but you MUST be familiar with the mountain and mountain safety to venture this high). Suggest you go with someone experienced for this. Ensure you check the avalance bulletin at HoJo's before venturing into the ravine. Sometimes when the danger is high in the ravine, a second option is Hillmans Highway... just check the board first either way.

The vertical of the ravine (ravine floor to top of headwall) if about 600ft. Add another 1,200 ft from the top of the headwall to the summit of Mount Washington. If your over skiing Hillmans Highway, its about a 1,200 vertical.

Head up the earlier the better in my opinion.. I mostly say this as I normally go in the spring... it can get busy on the trail after 9am.

One of the great advantages of going March/early April is that at the end of your stay, you can ski out to the bottom at Pinkham via the Sherbourne trail which starts at HoJo's (5 min from Hermit Lake).

Cheers!

[s2oleary]

once again thanks for all the info!!!!

i am getting pumped!!! if i run into anything else i will run it by you thanks!!!

[notjustanotherboarder]

I usually only go from December-March. You said you're heading up in early march. That's the time when its just starting to get slightly warmer. Just me sure that you check the weather reports before you go: http://www.mountwashington.org/avalanche/ and http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/index.html It can get amazingly cold (0 to -30) very easily even in the day time, not to mention the night time conditions, wind, snow, rain etc. Make sure that you have all the gear that's needed for extreme conditions.

[M@]

Hike info:
http://www.weirdtable.org/~m/tuckerman/Hike.htm

Camping Info:
http://www.tuckerman.org/camping/camping.htm

The only info not in the above two links it the tricky question of "Will there be space." Typically, this is a funciton of weather. If it's a nice weekend, they place will book EARLY friday morning. If it's iffy, there will probably be spots sat morning, but probably all gone by noon.

HoJo's is NOT a facility, true. No water available. You must treat/carry your own. They do have well cared for bathrooms though, which is very nice.

I've never seen snowshoes. The trail is so busy it gets packed down. On nice weekends it's gotta be the most well travelled trail in the country. Count on a steady line of people from sat morning. I usually hike up at night, but that's a whole nother beast.

Talk to rangers. Always talk to the rangers. They will never steer you wrong. At the entrance to the bowl there's a guy usually hanging out most of the morning named Brad Ray, who will tell you the best places to ski. He knows more about tuckerman than anyone. he might be retiered though. But there are rangers at HoJo's. And lots of people all over. talk to them.

M@

[skicdave]

Actually Brad Ray retired back in 2001.

I've heard those bathrooms (flushable even) are pretty posh compared to the outhouses. Kind of doubt they are open during the winter though... oh this could start a whole new thread! :eek:

[M@]

Brad Ray did retire in 2001, here's a Picture (http://www.weirdtable.org/~m/tuckerman/2001/pix/html/DCP_4249.JPG) of me meeting him for the first time in 2001. We talked about this retierment, as Tuck the dog (visible in the backround) was also retiering!

But I guess he still heads up there. I saw him there last year, at the entrance to the floor of the ravine, talking to folks telling them where NOT to go.

There are winter and summer toilets. They summer ones are closed/boarded up during ski season. The winter ones are just outhouses, but they have TP! They are also ventilated which keeps the cold down, but it also causes major shrinkage ;) on the cold windy days.

M@

[kdw]

As its your first time, you might want to also leave 20-30 minutes time at Lunch Rocks to say to yourself
"Holy Crap thats steep" and "Do I really want to do this?" ...

For my first time, this was right about when one of the climbers slipped and cartwheeled down. A smarter person might have taken that as a sign...he was dizzy but not injured (much), fortunately...

[north reading jim]

I concur w\notjustanotherboarder...prepare for extreme conditions...if you've never been up to the ravine and surrounding area...remember one thing...prepare for the worst and hope for the best,,regarding weather...it changes in a heart beat.
I slept up there last May, figured I'd be fine w\my 3 season sleeping bag, fleece blanket, inflatable term-a-rest,,, changed into dry long underwear for a freezing, piercing cold mother of a night..shivered most of the night...strongly recommended...bring a goose down sleeping bag.

[s2oleary]

ok great info guys thanks
question what time on a sat morning does pinkhams notch visitors center open so we can reserve a spot if we are there at 6 am sat morning will some one be there to reserve a spot for us? and i guess in the right condition we can ski from the ravine to ho jo's but what about ho jo's to the parking lot?

[skicdave]

The Pinkham Notch Visitors Centre opens at 6:30am. If the weekend is a busier one, you might be looking at checking in on Friday morning instead of Saturday.

If your going in March/early April, you can usually ski out of the ravine over the little headwall to HoJo's / Hermit Lake.

Even into mid April the Sherbourne ski trail from HoJo's down to Pinkham is open. Worse case, you can ski down until you run out of snow, then connect up with the Tuckerman Ravine trail to hike the rest of the way down (the Sherbourne ski trail runs parallel and fairly close to the Tuckerman Ravine trail. Remember! The Tuckerman Ravine trail is for hiking only, and skiing down it is not allowed.

Cheers

[notjustanotherboarder]

I just talk a lot because I really love this place (except for in the Spring :) )

Folks are getting hurt and killed all the time mostly because they're not using their heads and not having the right gear. I do my best not to be one of them. Spring time at Tucks is really about having a really good time with friends and other folks, while getting in a bit of hardcore skiing on tough snow. I think the two go hand in hand. that's very cool. Its a very social environment.

Prior to mid-to-late march, its more about enjoying the great outdoors and the better snow conditions. But, if you're going to stay over-night at that time of year, it's best to be well prepared for the weather and avy dangers. Someone in your group should have experience at this. otherwise, wait until April.

[s2oleary]

I think we set the date
last weekend in march? now lets hope the weather knows we set the date and is feeling friendly!!!!
thanks again for all the help this has been a great resource and probably the reason this trip is getting off the ground!!

thank you all
I if you are around that weekend look for me i will be the one topling down the bowl!!!