First timer info

[SNOBLIND]

Hi all, After reading Affix's report about his day at Wildcat, and how good they were to him, my wife and I decided to do a weekend up there! I have a hidden agenda though, it will also give me a chance to look over Tucks!! I'm planning a spring trip this year. I'd like to get some time in during or Feb. trip as well, if time allows. My questions are 1. How long does it take to get back into tucks from the parking area, and 2. can it be x-counrty skied to the bowl for someone who just wants to hang out and watch. My wife is an excellent skier, but has no interest in climbing to ski. (not yet anyway) Could she hike in on boots? Any suggestions or help would be great!! Thanks, Randy :skierpetrified:

[JayTux]

Congrats on the trip! Hope you have :bluebird:

Anyway, here's what you need to know:

It takes anywhere from 1.5 hrs to 2.5 hrs to get to the Hermit Lake Shelter, and another 30-45 minutes to get from there to the floor of the ravine.

You can skin up the trail to the bowl, and NO you do not want to hike in ski boots. Koflachs are okay, but you'll want something that you'll be comfortable for up to 3 hours and ski boots are not the answer...

Check out http://timefortuckerman.com/tuckerman1.html for all your needs...

Welcome!

:)

[Sledhaulingmedic]

As far as XC to the bowl: Yes and no. Heavy BC/Tele/Randonee: as far as Hermit lake, sure (until sometime in March, usually.) To the Bowl, no. From Hermit lake to the Bowl is fairly steep. Coming down, when the Little Headwall is covered is Heavy XC min, BC/Randonee/tele more seriously, even in good conditions.

If nothing else, pick a spring weekend and take a hike and enjoy the ambiance that is skiers getting in over their heads on a nice spring day.

Learn from others' mistakes.

[M@]

I have never seen cross-country skiis in the ravine, either on the trail up or in the bowl itself.

The hike up is alomst completely uphill. This might be the most important piece of data in the decision. Would you enjoy a cross-country ski tour if it was ALL up hill?

On the way down you are not allowed to slide on the tuckerman trail (the one everyone hikes up) and would you be comfortable cross-country skiing down the Sherburne trail? It's probably a "blue circle" trail by most resort standards, but it's ungroomed, narrow, usually bumped up by the time most people hit it, and "like a box of chocolates" you never know what kinda base and coverage you're gonna get. Tele skiers are in their element there, but cross-country you probably won't enjoy it.

I am a cross country skier - but I only get out maybe 3 times a year - so this advice is worth what you paid for it - so if it's your first time, I'd recommend just hiking up in hiking boots. In the springtime the trail is pretty good for that.

M@

[BradBradstreet]

I hiked back into the bowl last February. Pictures are posted at http://public.fotki.com/bradbradstreet/hikes/2005_hikes/02_tuckermans/ - This will give an idea of trail conditions on a very good day. Most of the time in the winter I can not get past Hermit Shelter (aka HoJo's).

[JayTux]

I hiked back into the bowl last February. Pictures are posted at http://public.fotki.com/bradbradstreet/hikes/2005_hikes/02_tuckermans/ - This will give an idea of trail conditions on a very good day. Most of the time in the winter I can not get past Hermit Shelter (aka HoJo's).


Love em....esp. the ones of you guys approaching Hojos with Hillmans and Boott Spur looming in the backround. Looks like great cover for February!

:)

[SNOBLIND]

Thanks all, The info was a big help! Brad's pictures are awesome. The mrs. thinks she'll pass for now, and I'll have to wait because of time constraints till march or april. Thanks again everyone!!