Well it’s that time of the year when the adventurers can think about heading to Tuckerman Ravine for some thrills and spills up on the wall. The ski season at Tuckerman Ravine begins at this time of the year and continues until at least June and sometimes into July.
Tuckerman Ravine can be one of the most challenging places in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. It can also be one of the most picturesque hikes, with spring birds chirping as they cling to forested branches below tree line. This area is extremely popular with skiers, climbers and hikers. Each year over 70,000 people visit this place.
Skiing Tuckerman involves something more like leap turns. The ravine gives skiers the chance to test themselves against the mountain, with no namby-pamby mugs of hot chocolate waiting if they get tired halfway through the run.
First, make sure you are up for the challenge of the trek. From the Trailhead at Pinkham Notch, (elevation 2,028 feet) the trail reaches the mouth of the ravine at Hermit Lake (elevation 3,800 feet), in 2.4 miles. The trail continues for another half mile to the floor of the bowl, which rises from 4,300 feet to 5,100 feet. You have to hike for an average of three hours to get to the beginning of a ski run.
Few tips for safe skiing in Tuckerman Ravine:
Tuckerman Ravine isn’t for everyone and planning a trip requires some serious thought. So, if you’re hoping to enjoy Tuck’s this year, here are few things to be kept in mind for a successful and safe trip.
Weather Conditions: The weather on Mount Washington can be erratic, so check conditions before you go and also at the Pinkham Notch Visitor Center at the trailhead in Pinkham Notch to check weather conditions and avalanche predictions before heading to the ravine.
Avalanches: Avalanches are frequent on Tuckerman Ravine’s steep, snowy, windswept slopes. They are most common during or immediately following a snowstorm, but the danger continues to exist in the spring. As a skier, you should avoid steep, open slopes holding new snow and should heed posted avalanche warnings.
Open Crevasses: Melting snow can cause deep crevasses to open up. Check the signs posted at the AMC’s Visitor Center and at the base of the ravine. Stay well clear of crevasses.
The area is undeveloped with no ski lift, so getting to the top requires the same amount of strategy and effort as getting down. It also means being in good physical condition to meet the challenge of the three-mile hike to the top.
Skiing safely in Tuckerman Ravine means more than being an expert skier. It means being prepared with the proper equipment and knowledge, being flexible in your plans and never skiing alone. Plan You next adventure in Tuckerman Ravine to experience pulse-quickening thrills.
Source: The New York times
