Mark Renson
New member
I departed early in the morning from Hudson under dark and showery skies. To ensure that I avoided any snow, I opted for the Seacoast route up NH 16. Brilliant blue skies opened up as the sun rose and I approached the daunting Presidentials and black ice was found on the road as I ascended Pinkham Notch. <BR> I observed Huntington Ravine and noticed the bright white gash of Central Gully which actually looked skiable for its entire length. Later, I was told that was almost true - only a short ice bulge in the middle prevents a complete ski descent. <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1029.jpg" ALT="Central Gully"> <BR> Big snowpack was observed in the distant Gulf of Slides South Snowfields <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1030.jpg" ALT="Gulf of Slides"> <BR> We boarded the Thiokol for a whose ascent. Fantastic views opened up as we approached Hermit Lake and I observed slide activity in Dodge's Drop. At HoJo's, the avalanche danger was rated as Moderate due to the 3.9" of new snow overnight and wind loading (of course). We then watched the Lower Snowfields put on a display of loose sluff avalanches as the morning sun blasted the newly fallen snow. .... <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1031.jpg" ALT="Lower Snowfield"> <BR>uh oh. Based on my training, if you see avalanches occuring, that should give you an idea of what the avalanche danger is like - duh. A long wet slide then let loose in Hillman's Highway, originating at the crux chute on the climbers right and terminating almost 1,000 vertical feet below. This was followed by another loose slide in the Lower Snowfields a few minutes later. <BR> I was assigned to hang out at the porch and inform the public of what was happening. If they were to go above treeline, I was to recommend that they stay around Hillman's as most of what was to slide had already happened and we were still unsure of what was still to happen in The Bowl. This advice did not ensure that Hillman's/Lower Snowfields was entirely safe. I informed a skier "We're not your Mom, so we can't tell you what to do, but you can see what's happening up there" as I gestured towards the Lower Snowfields. Some turned back, and most were very receptive and engaged me in analytical conversation regarding the mountain. Most did go for the risks, however. <BR> At midday, I was assigned to climb up Hillman's Highway just a little less than halfway up. <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1032.jpg" ALT="Hillman Debris"> <BR>Oh Gawd ..... But, the slides had already slid (I had hoped) and there was a safe route up the boot packed steps well the the side and next to the vegetation. So, under the brilliant skies, I trudged upward to a point past the crown of the Christmas Tree (top of the Lower Snowfields) but below the crux chutes. I was still unsure of the potential for the climber's left to slide, among other things, and I was by myself and a bit spooked, so I limited my activity as I parked myself at an island of safety right below some brush. I chatted with some folks and was happy to see a couple carry beacons. <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1033.jpg" ALT="Climb"> <BR>Not too many climbed up, though - I'd say roughly 20-25 people, much less than in the Bowl. I also admired the snow choked gullies on the Lion's Head and some sweet tracks made on the distant East Snowfields. <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1034.jpg" ALT="Lion Head Gullies"> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1035.jpg" ALT="Pinhead1"> <BR> As the shadow of the Boot Spur decended which also stabilized the snowpack, I tentatively made my ski descent on the slope that I measured at between 30-35 degrees. I quickly gained some steep ski confidence and made some great turns as I went over s ateep bulge. I stopped halfway down to chat with some dude who reminded me of Matt Duffy with his determined demeanor and K2-Fours with a tip repaired with duct tape. I watched him make a sweet descent in the powder as he weaved in and out of the vegetation and kicked up some sweet rooster tails. <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1036.jpg" ALT="Late Descent"> <BR> I finished my decent through some sweet heavy powder, making some tracks and then cutting over to the lower Lower Snowfields where I found crust. <BR> Later that evening in a "review of the day", it was noted that people were skiing _BIG_ . The more experienced noted that the 2 biggest problems were that too many grossly underestimate the severity of the trauma that could result from a fall and the avalanche danger. It was also noted that nobody was stationed at the Lunch Rocks as it was determined to be too dangerous. We also noted that Dodges Drop was relatively thin on snow while the Lion's Head Gullies were deeeeeep, especially the Right Gully due to the prevalance of northeasterly winds this Winter. Because of that we are very sure that Oakes Gully must be in fantastic shape. It was also noted that the Gulf of Slides has a huge amount of snow and that there have been huge slides that blasted through the forest and across the Gulf of Slides trail. <BR> The next morning, 45+ MPH winds howled through Hermit Lake and banged the outside door to our hut and raked the hut with sleet, creating an incessant clicking sound. The forecast that we got when we called the Observatory folks the prior night proved to be correct as snow then sleet fell followed by some freezing rain which gave everything above treeline a hard shell finish. <BR> Since hardly anyone was heading up - though there were a few - we opted to do some extensive rope work and anchor building with the USFS. Cool stuff and I learned much that I could use in climbing. Afterwards, some of us climbed up into the fog and wind to replenish the Connection Cache near the floor of The Bowl. <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1037.jpg" ALT="Bowl"> <BR> For the final descent, some hardpack was evident on the Sherburne which soon turned into sweet corn as we decended into a layer of warm air. Hardpack returned at about 2,700 feet as we plunged into cold air which meant edgeable hardpack for a surface. At the bottom at my truck, I found a 1" layer of frozen crust on my truck. <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/1038.jpg" ALT="Sherburne"> <BR> The weekend in summary was a bit of a disappointment for me as I wished I could have skied more on the seductive snow of Hillman's Highway ..... but I was reminded by Mike from the AMC that I had made a wise choice by playing safe. After all, it will be a long season and I do have July 4th circled as a ski day. Any takers?