Tucks in Late May: Still good snow, still good fun, kielbasa & cheese
Posted by Martin Silverstone | Date created 2009-11-08 05:25:28
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It has become an SABRFC tradition: The Tucks Trip. Snow falls on Mount Washington every month of the year. As one would expect, frequency and amount of precipitation increase with elevation. Yearly snowfall on the summit of Mount Washington averages 645 cm. The pervasive high winds move large quantities of snow off the upper elevations, resulting in incredible wind loading events for the avalanche starting zones along the flanks and ravines of the range. Wind-blown snow is a major contributor to the late ski season in the bow. Snow depths on the floor of Tuckerman Ravine on the lee side of Mount Washington average 12 to 16 m! This information should whet your appetite.
Club members usually try to head down around Easter when there is still enough snow to ski right to the bottom of the mountain from the bowl But in some years a keen group goes as late as July 1. This year we planned a late trip on the Victoria Day weekend, and although we couldn't ski out, the snow in the bowl was deep and soft. On this trip there were 8 first timers, which I think is a record! Antonecchia, Olny, and Matty all skied a very steep section of the bowl and were blown away.
Guiler, Aaron and Cundall made the trip and napped in the bowl. Cundall gets extra points for schussing the bowl on a frisbee, probably the first time in the history of the ravine. He also helped carry Stone's pack up the mountain, but Stone watched over his coffee, so they are even. And Thomassin won the top prize for this year's trip, because he didn't almost kill himself which has been his modus operandi on other trips.
An even bigger crew than the 11 were expected, but sadly there were some last minute bailouts. We hope to organize a very big trip with anywhere from 20-40 members next Easter so start getting into shape now. The hike up is long and hard and as Brian and as Thomassin will tell you, coming down is no picnic either.
One more thing. The bowl has many dangers including falling ice and crevasses. The group that went yesterday stayed together and stayed safe by following the advice of the rangers and patrollers who suggested staying to the left of the bowl. There have been many fatal accidents in the ravine, mainly from skiers and hikers who bite off more than they can chew or who don't follow the advice of the patrollers. Thankfully our club has a perfect record in the bowl, except for Stone who had a bad accident and was lucky only to break his collarbone and Matty who one year cranked his knee. However, these two are idiots anyway.
The Tucks trip is an excellent fitness builder, and the campfire is always a fun group activity. It's also a great way to meet new people and make new friends. On this trip, for example, Stone gained a new appreciation of Natalie's level of fitness and toughness as she had to carry Antonecchia's pack and was the only skier who tackled the bowl in snow blades on this day.
Also, we met a super Quebec skier who skis out of La Reserve. Ginger was her name and she appeared like a dream from behind a rock. Hopefully you will see pix of all this if everyone sends their pictures in (Brian, Nat etc.) thanks to Guiler for these pictures.
