davidhowland14
04-01-2008, 04:59 PM
"Snow Maintenance" to be Carried out in Tuckerman Ravine
Pinkham Notch, NH
April 1, 2008
The Mount Washington Avalanche Center and the Mount Washington Volunteer ski patrol have been studying the snowpack in the ravine since early March, and have concluded that, due to the excess snowfall this season and the accompanying high avalanche activity, something must be done to augment Nature's efforts at melting the snow. In a plan released today, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center will be placing large amounts of dynamite in holes dug horizontally into the base of the ravine. These charges will be detonated in the afternoon of April 5th, and are expected to destabilize the snowpack in the entire Ravine, resulting in large avalanches.
"These charges will serve two purposes" said Snow Ranger Chris Joosen, "They will help bring snow down from the Lip and the Icefall areas, and they will accomplish a great deal of brush and deadfall clearing in the Little Headwall area as the avalanches sweep out of the ravine."
Tuckerman Ravine will be closed from 6:00 PM Friday, April 4th, 2008 until 12:00 AM Sunday, April 6th, 2008 to allow the snow rangers to set and activate the charges, and to allow the ravine to fully avalanche and destabilize. Members of the Mount Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol will be standing guard at the entrance to the Tuckerman Ravine leading up to the bowl, and Joosen recommends that all visitors to the ravine purchase viewing tickets for the HoJo's deck. Visitors not holding tickets, which Joosen said could be purchased at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, will be turned away and sent back down the mountain. The Mount Washington Avalanche Center and the Mount Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol ask for the cooperation of the public while this important snow maintenance is carried out.
yikes.
Pinkham Notch, NH
April 1, 2008
The Mount Washington Avalanche Center and the Mount Washington Volunteer ski patrol have been studying the snowpack in the ravine since early March, and have concluded that, due to the excess snowfall this season and the accompanying high avalanche activity, something must be done to augment Nature's efforts at melting the snow. In a plan released today, the Mount Washington Avalanche Center will be placing large amounts of dynamite in holes dug horizontally into the base of the ravine. These charges will be detonated in the afternoon of April 5th, and are expected to destabilize the snowpack in the entire Ravine, resulting in large avalanches.
"These charges will serve two purposes" said Snow Ranger Chris Joosen, "They will help bring snow down from the Lip and the Icefall areas, and they will accomplish a great deal of brush and deadfall clearing in the Little Headwall area as the avalanches sweep out of the ravine."
Tuckerman Ravine will be closed from 6:00 PM Friday, April 4th, 2008 until 12:00 AM Sunday, April 6th, 2008 to allow the snow rangers to set and activate the charges, and to allow the ravine to fully avalanche and destabilize. Members of the Mount Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol will be standing guard at the entrance to the Tuckerman Ravine leading up to the bowl, and Joosen recommends that all visitors to the ravine purchase viewing tickets for the HoJo's deck. Visitors not holding tickets, which Joosen said could be purchased at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, will be turned away and sent back down the mountain. The Mount Washington Avalanche Center and the Mount Washington Volunteer Ski Patrol ask for the cooperation of the public while this important snow maintenance is carried out.
yikes.