Snowfields Below the Summit?

[Tuckerman Bullet]

I was hoping to drive up to the summit this weekend, and ski the snowfields. Has anyone been up to the snow fields this month? How long of a hike is it down to the snowfields?? How does skiing and hiking the snowfields, compare to skiing and hiking Hillman's or The Bowl???

[skicdave]

Check out the summit area via the Jackson Cam at http://www.mountwashington.org/cam/jackson/index.html# . When I check today at 1:30pm EST the cam showed a clear view of the snowfields. Not a whole lot of snow but looks doable.

Haven't skied that particular part of the mountain myself, but would say it is certainly not steep compared to skiing in the bowl or Hillman's.

Dave

http://ski.websmith.ca/ski/gifs/moose3a.gif

[Tuckerman Bullet]

The view from the Jackson Cam shows that there is still a decent size patch or area of snow. I did not ski up there this Sunday due to the summit was socked in the fog. I will try again next Sunday. Does anyone Know if there is still skiable snow on Hillman's or in The Bowl?

[jshefftz]

That Jackson cam is indeed very helpful. The auto road company is also very informative over the phone.

When I skied the Eastern Snowfields (i.e., the largest patch of snow in the cam picture) on June 9 (after we bailed on Great Gulf b/c of the bad weather), the vertical was 400. On June 22, only 300 was left. I'm still holding out for July 4 though - just 100 feet and 10 turns are all I need!

Access is ridiculously easy. Just before the auto road starts branching off, you'll notice a small unpaved parking lot on the left. (If you go too far and reach the paved lots, just turn around, then take a right into the first thing that looks like a parking lot.) From here, start walking back up the auto road. On your left will be a yellow arrow sign: at this point, start walking down over the ridge. You'll see the snow almost immediately, even though you can't see the snow from the road. Total walking time is probably under a minute. (Going back to your car you can cut straight across and skip the road, once you know where to go.)

[Tuckerman Bullet]

Thanks for the info. I will be skiing up there on Monday, instead of Sunday. Tuesday I am planning to ski Hilllman's or the Bowl; weather permitting.

[nipe]

im also going to be there on monday, hopefully the weather is good.
anyone been there today or going on saturday?

[skibum]

I looked at the Mt Washington Observatory Cam, which I believe points south. Sure looks like alot of snow at the high elevations. Wish I could join you all.

Let us know how it goes.

[nipe]

i was up there on monday, made about 20 turns. tuckermans isnt worth going to but the snowfields are just because they are so easy to get to. i doubt they will last more than another week though, but i got enough in for me to be happy so it was good

[Tuckerman Bullet]

I was up there on that same Monday, and it was socked in with Thick Fog. I stopped at all of the turnoffs on the drive down from the summit, but never saw any snow. The visibility was maybe 10 feet in the lot just below the summit. I walked both lots; the right side and left side. Where exactly was the snowfield that you skied? Was it the first lot driving down from the summit, or the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd dirt turnoff?? Was the lot, turnoff, and snowfield on the right or left when driving down from the summit??? Let me know, so I can try again next July. It sound like you had an Excellent day of July skiing!