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February, 2021

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Tuckerman ravine

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doubleblackjack1
Posts: 57 - Karma: 368
Considering hitting tucks for the first time this year or next year, and i have many questions. How long and grueling is the hike to the base? When is the best time of the year to go? How many laps do people usually do in a day?
Feb 14 2021 10:34PM 7 0
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Dan-Man
Posts: 7204 - Karma: 2,701
I'm out in Colorado but even I've heard of the legendary Tuck's!

Isn't it more of a spring (April) type of thing?
Feb 14 2021 11:15PM 9 0
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doubleblackjack1
Posts: 57 - Karma: 368
Dan-ManI'm out in Colorado but even I've heard of the legendary Tuck's!

Isn't it more of a spring (April) type of thing?

Yeah i think it’s pretty popular late February to april
Feb 14 2021 11:31PM 3 1
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Celery
Posts: 378 - Karma: 2,215
More mid March-April. It's the only time where it isn't wicked icy and there's some sort of snowpack. Also, it's about a 6 mile hike to the base of the ravine if I remember correctly. It's a pretty mellow gradient since most of your elevation gain will be in the ravine its self.
doubleblackjack1Yeah i think it’s pretty popular late February to april


**This post was edited on Feb 15th 2021 at 6:50:14am
Feb 15 2021 6:48AM 7 1
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SkiBum.
Posts: 3442 - Karma: 3,390
Wait till spring.

If you’re in halfway decent shape you can be up, ski a lap, and back in like 5 hours. Jong show most nice spring weekends. It’s fun to do once. But that’s about it.
Feb 15 2021 1:28PM 2 0
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crowsquad
Posts: 2 - Karma: 28
Usually starts being good in April-May, depending on the year. Earlier you hit the better chance you have of being able to ski all the way down to the lot. The hike up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail isn't too bad, probably like 3 hours to the headwall. From there you can see all the lines and can choose where to go up and how far. Can be pretty sketchy in spots to put your skis on with how steep it is, so be aware that once you commit you may have to go all the way to the top. I've only gone once and skied one lap, way too tired to go up for a second. Wasn't too difficult/steep on the ski down, more of a mental challenge of a big line away from the resort.

Most importantly, check the avalanche forecast at the MWAC (https://mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/forecast/#/presidential-range) before you go. Generally in spring they stop doing a daily forecast as the snowpack settles and conditions get safer. Even if there's low risk of avy, the bulletin gives good details on the weather, conditions, and other risks.
Feb 15 2021 1:42PM 5 0
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ThisAngelicRage
Posts: 8681 - Karma: 48
crowsquadMost importantly, check the avalanche forecast at the MWAC (https://mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/forecast/#/presidential-range) before you go. Generally in spring they stop doing a daily forecast as the snowpack settles and conditions get safer. Even if there's low risk of avy, the bulletin gives good details on the weather, conditions, and other risks.

Agree with all of this. I would also advise to go with someone who has good experience skiing the area. Take proper precautions, investigate snowpack, and use safety equipment. It may be the east coast but avalanches can happen. Tuck faces brutal and relentless winds which form wind slabs and causes insane amounts of blowoff to accumulate in nooks and crannies. Lost a legend there recently. Low risk day, extremely experienced skier, familiar with area, had proper equipment. He might still be here if he hadn't gone alone...
https://vtskiandride.com/avalanche-mt-washington-ian-forgays/
RIP Skiin' Ian

Have fun and be safe OP.
Feb 15 2021 4:36PM 1 0
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pinkcamo1000
Posts: 2672 - Karma: 16,079
Dan-ManI'm out in Colorado but even I've heard of the legendary Tuck's!

Isn't it more of a spring (April) type of thing?


not anymore, now it's a go up in january with no avalanche gear and get caught in an avalanche in left gully type thing
Feb 15 2021 7:01PM 2 0
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pinkcamo1000
Posts: 2672 - Karma: 16,079
basically it's legit avalanche terrain in winter months and you need to be prepared for that

in the spring it's pretty safe, a shitload of kooks ski it (myself included), still dangerous but nothing like it is in the winter
Feb 15 2021 7:04PM 2 0
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pinkcamo1000
Posts: 2672 - Karma: 16,079
also it's good to go well into may, there probs wont be a ski out though. I skied it on 5/23 once
Feb 15 2021 7:07PM 2 0
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 5876 - Karma: 6,821
I've skiied there in June. Less snow, but also a shorter bootpack. It's about 2 miles from the trailhead to ravine floor. Most of the hike is easy but the last 1/4 mile or so from the ski patrol hut to the toboggan cache is steep and rocky, at least in the spring. Dedicated hiking boots are a good idea. There's some campsites up there you can book if you want to stay a few days. I'd say go in may when avy danger might be less extreme and the weather will probably be nicer.
I'd recommend getting crampons because the bootpack gets very steep and it can be icy. There's videos of people sliding all the way down because they slipped hiking up. There are a lot of hazards up there no matter when you go, like falling rocks and ice, undercutting of the snow by running water, avalanches, etc. It can be very foggy too.
It would be reasonable for a fit person to do 3 laps in a day, if you're going all the way to the top.
Feb 15 2021 7:48PM 2 0
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skierman
Posts: 4354 - Karma: -914
ThisAngelicRageAgree with all of this. I would also advise to go with someone who has good experience skiing the area. Take proper precautions, investigate snowpack, and use safety equipment. It may be the east coast but avalanches can happen. Tuck faces brutal and relentless winds which form wind slabs and causes insane amounts of blowoff to accumulate in nooks and crannies. Lost a legend there recently. Low risk day, extremely experienced skier, familiar with area, had proper equipment. He might still be here if he hadn't gone alone...
https://vtskiandride.com/avalanche-mt-washington-ian-forgays/
RIP Skiin' Ian

Have fun and be safe OP.


HOLY FUCKING SHIT.




YOU!



ITS YOU!



I'll see you up there, OP.
Feb 15 2021 9:12PM 0 0
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