April 1, 2009 E-MAIL PRINT

Tuckerman time

by Tony Chamberlain/

Making the trek to Tuckerman Ravine, seen here from Wildcat, is a must for any serious skier or snowboarder. (photo: Brooks Dodge)

Making the trek to Tuckerman Ravine, seen here from Wildcat, is a must for any serious skier or snowboarder. (photo: Brooks Dodge)

As the days this season grow warmer and longer, legions of skiers begin to plan for their annual rite of spring up Mount Washington. Of course, these are the broad slopes of New England’s highest peak. Prime time for this annual migration is from late April into May, but if you’ve never made the Washington trek, it’s not like any skiing you’ve done this or any season.

Most skiers of college age have made the trek, and this goes back generations, even to a time when, to avoid hauling their skis up every time they climbed Washington, they’d find a place in the trees to leave them to pick up next trip.

In fine fair weather and warm sunshine, the experience can be as much fun as there is to be had in mountain sports. But, of course, this is Mount Washington, and there are hazards to be aware of. In April, the average summit temperature is well below freezing, so whatever it may feel like down in Pinkham Notch, don’t believe what your skin receptors may be telling you.

Also, winds on the summit average over 35 miles per hour — your rig is already double-reefed — and that means you could easily feel hurricane forces up there on exposed terrain. By May, the average temperature is only slightly above freezing. The bottom line is to have many layers in your pack to either put on or strip down to. And, close to the time of your trip, keep a careful eye on the hourly weather gradient offered by many forecast services.

Make sure to be in touch with U.S. Forest Service Snow Rangers, who regularly post weather-related data but also information about avalanche danger. So, make sure your information is up to date.

As the weather warms, the ice pack and icicles on the headwalls of the ravines can suddenly give way and come crashing down — one of the dangers to be constantly aware of. The same process can create the much publicized crevasses — cracks in the surface — many shallow, some dangerously deep.

And, if all goes well and sunny seasonal weather does break out on the slopes while you're there, even if you’re tempted to find some spot for sun-bathing, make sure you have heavy sunblock and very good polarized shades. This may not be Arapahoe Basin at 12,000 feet, but the atmosphere is thinner and the snow is a huge reflector of the sun’s rays.

The bottom line here is, if you’re new to high-mountain skiing, and Washington specifically, best go with a group containing experienced veterans of this trek.

So, cautions aside, if you hit the right spring day on Washington, the experience is literally unforgettable and will haunt you through the years so that every spring the thought will pop into your brain like the persistent begging of an eager child: “This spring? Can we go this spring?”

My first two treks up the fire trail many years ago to cover the renewed Inferno Race, skis affixed in the back pack, ended when we found fog so thick on top that the race was postponed.

The third attempt on the following weekend brought us that combination of bluebird skies, warm sun and relatively light winds — and one of the most delightful ski days in a lifetime.

Could happen to you, right? Maybe, maybe not. One thing is sure: It will never happen if you don’t make the effort.

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