Skiing Tuckerman in the winter

[Dromond]

First of all I'm not even vaguely thinking of doing this myself. I don't have anywhere near the experience in avy terrain.

Despite the fact that I'm from right up around there I've yet to ski tucks in any season and don't know too much about it. It appears to me that the posted avy danger is "considerable" or "extreme" all of the winter. Is this even actually possible? Not that anyone can be blamed for keeping ECers (with not avy skills) out of there in the winter.

What I'm wondering is if people actually do ski up there in the winter? I'll be sure to make the hike this spring.... along with the crowds. But the only people I hear about heading up there during the winter months are ice climbers.

[schuss]

I know of people who've done it, but I as well don't have the experience to make judgement calls. The main problem with the winter, as I understand it, is that besides the snowpack, you have rapidly changing weather and arctic conditions up there. Mt. Washington does have the worst weather IN THE WORLD.

[Free Range Lobster]

What I'm wondering is if people actually do ski up there in the winter? I'll be sure to make the hike this spring.... along with the crowds. But the only people I hear about heading up there during the winter months are ice climbers.

It dosen't really get sweet until spring up there anyhow.
Avy danger is always high.
Its freaking deathly cold.
Every once in a while the avy danger will drop and it'll be good to go mid winter, but not too many times.

There is also a few more spots than just tucks to ski up there.

[Will]

People do ski up there in the winter, but early season in tucks belongs to the ice climbers (if they want it). The skiers got to wait for the ravines to fill in a bit.


Tucks Headwall 11/30
http://www.chauvinguides.com/IceCond...untNov3020.jpg

[gonzo]

People do ski up there in the winter, but early season in tucks belongs to the ice climbers (if they want it). The skiers got to wait for the ravines to fill in a bit.


Tucks Headwall 11/30
http://www.chauvinguides.com/IceCond...untNov3020.jpg

That looks really nice!

Why did you post two threads?

[basom]

i would have posted three. you know, just to be sure.

[peterslovo]

Too early...though left gully seems to be filling in nicely (yet is currently on the high end of considerable avy danger in terms of stability - too much wind loading). Summit conditions today are a high of 6 deg w/wind chills in -30 to -40 range with summit winds in the 80-100 mph range. sounds nice... !

An option you can always do mid-winter is wait for some dumps i(hopefully), skin up, and if the bowl is too cold, too unstable etc., you can always take a nice ski back down the sherburne, get a feel for it...