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Get Ready for the East's Spring Ritual: Skiing Tuckerman Ravine on Mount Washington
New for 2008, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), which operates the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at the base of New Hampshire's Mount Washington, is holding "Tucks Talks" on weekend mornings to help backcountry skiers prepare for a day of spring skiing at Tuckerman Ravine.
Mount Washington, which as the East's tallest mountain tops out at 6,288 feet, gives Eastern skiers a big-mountain backcountry skiing experience complete with 55-degree pitches, open crevasses, avalanches, falling ice, high winds, extreme weather and related hazards. While backcountry skiers challenge themselves here during the entire winter, most visit the mountain between March and May, when the chances are higher of getting a classic spring day of skiing.
Pinkham Notch has been a hub for hiking, climbing, snowshoeing and skiing on the Presidential Range of the White Mountains since the 1920s. From April 5 to May 25, 2008, backcountry skiers can join AMC staff and volunteers between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday morning in front of the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center before heading up to Tuckerman Ravine. Share questions about mountain conditions, backcountry safety and preparations for a day of spring skiing. This program is complimentary with a stay at Joe Dodge Lodge and open to the public.
The weather on Mount Washington is unpredictable because of its location in the midst of three major storm tracks. Sunny skies can be replaced by heavy overcast, fog, snow, rain or bitterly cold winds in a matter of minutes. There is no shelter in the ravine for protection—it's you against the elements. Skiers must hike in to the area and also ski and hike out. Reaching the ravine often can require mountaineering skills and equipment such as crampons and an ice ax. Anyone who enters the area should arm themselves with appropriate equipment—including an avalanche beacon, shovel and probe—since the only people around to participate in a quick rescue will be your group and perhaps other backcountry skiers. The U.S. Forest Service does have a search and rescue team available, but their response time is hindered by the remoteness of the area.
The weather on Mount Washington can be erratic, so check conditions before you go—and also at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center once you arrive in the area. The dangers of Tuckerman Ravine are as pronounced as its unique beauty. The AMC advises anyone planning to hike or ski in the ravine this spring to heed the U.S. Forest Service's avalanche reports before heading out. For updated weather and avalanche advisories, visit the Mount Washington Avalanche Center at www.tuckerman.org, look for the avalanche forecast on AMC's site, call the Forest Service at (603) 466-2713, or contact the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at (603) 466-2721. Snow rangers also are often on hand at the ravine and they can address questions and concerns.
Part of the spring skiing ritual for many skiers includes a stay at Joe Dodge Lodge, at the base of the Mount Washington on the Appalachian Trail. The lodge offers private or shared bunkrooms, family-style dinner, all-you-can-eat breakfast, and naturalist and evening programs included with each stay. Staff members can assist with trip planning, route information and weather reports. To make a reservation, call AMC Reservations at (603) 466-2727, Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
For more information about spring skiing at Tuckerman Ravine, go to AMC's site at www.outdoors.org/recreation/tuckerman. Contact Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at (603) 466-2721 for more information about "Tucks Talks."
About the Appalachian Mountain Club
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is the oldest conservation and recreation organization in the U.S. With 90,000 members throughout the Northeast, the nonprofit AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the Appalachian region.