You people are all insane

[snowboarder]

I went to Tucks on Monday April 17. Loved the hike up, but boarding the ravine was the most terrifying experience of my life (scarier than skydiving, and scarier than surfing in a hurricane, to be sure).

It just seemed to me to not be a good idea to be climbing up the chute in snowboard (or ski) boots while trying to hang onto your board (or skis). How can you stop yourself if you start sliding? Pray to God.

Maybe the day I went was particularly icy, but I got up there and realized what a stupid thing I'd done. If I ever go back I am definitely bringing (buying) crampons to put on my snowboard boots.

Does anyone else share this view? I felt like I was definitely lacking the right equipment. This feeling was validated when I saw some guy climbing the cute with crampons and an ice ax.

Have fun, but be safe.

[Brian LeBlanc]

I have only been to tuckerman's once and the day that i went was rather warm so the snow was soft and it was possible to kick a step into the snow. I can certainly see how it could be rather unnerving if there was ice but it sounds like you had your snowboard in your hands which isn't a great idea. You must have noticed other people that had their skis/snowboard on their backpack. It is the only way to go.

[snowboarder]

Nope, I had my snowboard in my backpack, and was the only one I saw doing it that way. All the skiers had their skis over their shoulders, and boarders had their boards in their hands (don't let go!) I had an easier climb than other people because I was doing it this way, but when the slope got too steep and icy I had to get my board off my pack and use it to dig in. It was kind of precarious to do his, but I got it off ok.

I'm glad to hear that the climb is safer when the snow is softer. Maybe I'll give Tuck's another chance.

One other piece of advice I have for any first timers is to wear a helmet!!! Every time someone skis/boards down the slope they rain sluff on everyone climbing up. You have to pin yourself to the slope and wait it out while snowballs pound you. I got pinned down for 5 minutes non-stop while two guys were coming down above me. I lost count of how many times I got tagged in the head, but I'm glad I had that helmet on!

[Bill]

Hehehe...looks like you snowboarders should take a lesson from Erica from the previous post. She had an awsome time, and did it three days in a row! Way to go Erica!! Showboarders,this is all in fun you know. I have skiied Tucks twice now and both times it was about 60 degrees and sunny, and I was wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Talk about an awsome time! WoW! Keep an eye on the weather and go back up on a nice warm sunny day. Now thats fun. See ya.

[VTrider]

I just read your post and had to reply!! I've been making the annual spring pilgrimage to Tucks since 1989 and never 'skied' it - always on a snowboard. While reading your post it reminded me of just how much 'fear' I didn't know I could experience the first time I hiked up over the headwall.

I must of stayed up top for atleast an hour listening to that little voice in my head saying 'this is it, you've done it now - now what are you going to do?'. I'll never forget that gut-wrenching feeling. I couldn't even see over the lip in front of me, fortunately the snow was soft, my confidence was there and I realized that most of 'it' was just a 'mental-block'. The feeling I experienced after that run, well what a rush!

A decade later I still look forward to all those feelings I experience when I'm there every year. To tell you the truth, the ascent up the chutes, gullies, etc. scares me more than the descent. Through my experiences, i've seen some pretty scary and nasty things usually in the form of falling ice, equipment, snow, and people at a high rate of speed.

I always carry my board on a pack on my back, I now wear 'crampons' and a helmet (as in your later post, it does suck being 'pinned' down while be pegged in the head by falling ice/snow).

[snowboarder]

I'm glad to hear there's someone out there who held a similar impression on their first time up. The thing about me is I just try to avoid stupidity (ie not having the right equipment in a dangerous situation). There's a quote (that I'm about to butcher ) that goes something like "The thing about risk is to use your intelligence to make the situation easy, yet still look dangerous to an outsider." Well, I'm going to be smart and bring crampons next time.

I'm wondering what kind of crampons you use. I've seen Grivels, which are adjustable strap-ons and look like they'd be good for snowboard boots.

[Timmy]

Yes, we are insane. Of course the Headwall sacres the living s*** outta us- that's why we do it. If it were a bunny run, that wouldn't be worth the 2 hour hike and the aching body, now would it. See you all may 16th-20th. Look for me in lean-to 6 with my buds from home, from last year, and new ones from this year.

[VTrider]

"I'm wondering what kind of crampons you use. I've seen Grivels, which are adjustable strap-ons and look like they'd be good for snowboard boots"

I don't remember the manufacturer of the crampons, i've long since sold them to a friend a while back. I think they were 10pt./12pt., they were adjustable and fit my snowboard boots.

The first few Springs that I started to do tucks I was on short carving board/hardplates and hard boots. Funny thing is, I usually now bring a freeride board and soft boots, the one setup where 'crampons' would be ideal, unfortunately they don't fit soft boots very well.

I've been looking for a good pair (well, any pair) of crampons that would fit a snowboard boot, but haven't had any luck - every pair I see are made for hard boots/mountaineering boots. I have a pair of burton 'trampons' - crampon-like devices that fit snowboard boots that i'll be using this weekend. They look more like the bottom of a snowshoe rather than a traditional 'crampon' - Too bad they didn't have more of a 'toe' hold. Well, I figure that they will be better than nothing.

[bcl@tiac.net]

I skied tucks for the first time this year and I know exactly what someone else was saying about the fear that you get when it is time to ski down. I remember sitting down to put my skis on with the sound of saxophone music playing in the background (p.s. that guy did a great job!) and thinking "well, you got yourself into this, now get yourself out of it!" It really is a mental block, i was thinking "this is tuckerman ravine, many people have died doing what you are about to attempt, look how steep this is!" All these things combined though make it such a rush to get to the bottom of the ravine and then watch people from the lunch rocks. You just have to carve that first turn and then it is all easy from there.

[ha_lydia@hotmail.com]

I'll take the insanity as a complement (and I'm proud of it!) to the comment about the day you were up there that was particularly icy... Welcome to New England! I don't think I've ever skied phat powder here.. (And I've been skiing since I was two here...)

[Q-Loop]

I don't know Brian...I hiked up Left Gully on Saturday, and without carrying my equipment and being able to did my skis and poles in for balance, I most likely would have fallen backwards down the gully.

[Rob Martin]

Hey, I skied Tuckerman's for the first time at age 42) on April 17, 2000 as well. I wore crampons on the hike up from Pinkham Notch to the hut and back, but not on the ravine itself. Note that crampons are great going up, but if you fall, there is a very good chance of causing a lot of damage to your legs and knees if they dig in while sliding (you should practice sliding somewhere safe first!). Personally, I didn't find the climb up the left gulley that bad in ski boots with my skis over my left shoulder and poles in right hand. However, I did talk to a woman who had her skis in a homemade sling (1 1/2" webbing, with loops at both ends anchored by the bindings),like a rifle sling, and it appeared to work very well! You might easily fabricate such a devise for your snowboard, or, get a small, specialty day pack that is designed to carry a snowboard (check out Osprey packs!). As an aside...I met three Vermonters from Stowe (Hi Keith, Aaron and Carla!!!)on the trail up, and between their company, the beautiful weather (42F), and the ravine itself, had one of the best days of my life!!! See ya next year!!!!!!!!!

[slopdog]

I don't know what all you people are talking about, skiing down is not scary at all. It is the funnest run in the world. If your that scared maybe you shouldn't be skiing it, I have seen a lot of people get taken out by falling snowboarders and I have almost been taken out. All you snowboarders who slide down the whole thing on one edge, congradulations.........SKIERS RULE, keep your tips up and let me send out a big thanks to all you sick crazy people on ski patrol up there. You guys are a great bunch of people, well I am off to BC in a month. Pray for a short summer.........

[snowboarder]

Um, it works both ways. The time I went first a skier climbing up lost his footing and almost fell on my head, then another skier wiped out below me and I had to stand there and wait on a 55 degree slope wasting all my energy while everyone made sure the guy was alive.

My guess is you're one of those people that just skis the lower snowfields and then brags "I SKIED TUCKERMANS!!!!!!" What a joke.

[VTrider]

"skiing down is not scary at all. It is the funnest run in the world. If your that scared maybe you shouldn't be skiing it......"

http://timefortuckerman.com/ubb/rolleyes.gifOMG where do I start? Hey buddy, I'd suggest dropping that 'macho' bull**** about 'if your that scared maybe you shouldn't be skiing it' because it won't fly over here on this mesage board. I've been doing Tucks for over a decade and I have no problem admitting that 'every' time I ascend/descend that i'm very much in touch with 'fear'. Serious outdoor enthusiasts such as the likes you find here, rock/ice climbers, whitewater paddlers, practically everyone who chooses to engage in relatively high 'risk' activities and makes them part of their life will tell you the same: Fear is not a bad thing, it's 'healthy' and 'normal' and if you don't respect it - that's when you can start to get into 'trouble'.

"All you snowboarders who slide down the whole thing on one edge,congradulations ...... .SKIERS RULE"

....whatever

Man, you know I don't mean to be a sarcastic dick about it but I just won't put up with that bull****. It's like how everytime I see that stupid "NO FEAR" sticker on somebody's windshield I just have to snicker because I hear that little voice in my head say 'POSER'.

-VTrider

[slopdog]

Don't go there son...all I was saying is that these people talk like it was the scariest thing in the world. And maybe they should think of others before they go taking someone out. I will admit climbing up is some scary ****, but once I get my skies on its all fun from there on. It just sounds like everyone thinks they are some kind of crazy sick boarder yo if you get down it, and should be in warren miller next winter. And tell me you honestly think someone who skids down the whole thing on one edge is not a danger to other skiers and boarders. Don't get me wrong, I don't like most boarders, but there are some that rip and are cool guys. The majority of the ones I don't like are the ones who think they can board anything cause they are pros cause you know they have done it for 4 years now and have a 2000 burton pro model......wow. And I don't know if you were calling me a poser, but I ski over 100 days a year and can bust a 900 rotation in your face anytime you would like. And after the sms camp this summer I will be inverted frequently. And sorry I not a hiker, camper, white water rafting dude like yourself. 75% of the people there should still be on blue squares and black diamonds. And i am not just talking about boarders. I don't want to argue cause it is stupid. I don't see what was so bad about the point that I made. Maybe you fit right into the catagorie I described.... all you skiers out there keep your tips up, pray for more snow this winter on the east coast. And once again here is a big THANKS TO ALL YOU SICK SKI PATROL UP THERE you guys are hardcore. No offense to you boarders that do rip, keep on ripping it up. And Britney Spears, if you ever read this leave me your phone number baby...This kid is gone...........

[VTrider]

Hey Slopdog, I meant no offense and wasn't calling you a 'poser' - Seems like a bit of mis-interpretation of your post on my part. I do agree with many of your points.

"but I ski over 100 days a year and can bust a 900 rotation in your face anytime you would like. And after the sms camp this summer I will be inverted frequently."

Hey brother, all the more power to ya - keep on rockin! http://timefortuckerman.com/ubb/wink.gif

-VTrider

[pl1151]

Originally posted by slopdog:
I don't know what all you people are talking about, skiing down is not scary at all. It is the funnest run in the world. If your that scared maybe you shouldn't be skiing it, I have seen a lot of people get taken out by falling snowboarders and I have almost been taken out. All you snowboarders who slide down the whole thing on one edge, congradulations.........SKIERS RULE, keep your tips up and let me send out a big thanks to all you sick crazy people on ski patrol up there. You guys are a great bunch of people, well I am off to BC in a month. Pray for a short summer.........

I'm saying this in good fun: amen to snowboarders sliding the edge all the way down. that sucks anywhere. amen to a short summer. sorry, i haven't been to tuckerman, but hope to get there this coming season. skiing is the sport of the gods.

[snowbird]

Well yes it might have been an icy day, but your main problem was that you are a snowboarder. Now I have nothing against snowboarders, but the fact is that snowboarding boots tend not to be stiff so they are less able to grab to hardpack and ice. Advice- change to an alpine racing board with hard boots, or like you said, get crampons. This is Tuckermans, not sallyass killington.


Originally posted by snowboarder:
I went to Tucks on Monday April 17. Loved the hike up, but boarding the ravine was the most terrifying experience of my life (scarier than skydiving, and scarier than surfing in a hurricane, to be sure).

It just seemed to me to not be a good idea to be climbing up the chute in snowboard (or ski) boots while trying to hang onto your board (or skis). How can you stop yourself if you start sliding? Pray to God.

Maybe the day I went was particularly icy, but I got up there and realized what a stupid thing I'd done. If I ever go back I am definitely bringing (buying) crampons to put on my snowboard boots.

Does anyone else share this view? I felt like I was definitely lacking the right equipment. This feeling was validated when I saw some guy climbing the cute with crampons and an ice ax.

Have fun, but be safe.