[TR] Mt. Washington - various skis 3/10-11/2010

[danhelmstadter]

Trip: Mt. Washington - Various

 

Date: 3/10/2010

 

Trip Report:

I've been back east for a week or so visiting family and friends, a decent looking weather window materialized in the forecast for the white mountains, which had seen extremely stormy weather the previous week (4+' followed by HIGH wind for days) but sweet weather allowed for a couple days of good skiing, and i was able to ski about 12k in two days, 2 summit to parkinlots, 6 shots on tucks and the diagnol in huntingtons.

 

rented some ski/climbing equip. in North Conway, and was stoked about the clearing skies and to be back in an area where I had made so many good childhood memories.

 

left Pinkham Notch around 730am and made my way up to the summit via the Lip area of tucks -- there were a few slabs, but everything was well bonded -- as forecasted. The summit (6288') was breezy and cool, everything covered in rime ice, includeing the many buildings and towers...

 

The ski down off the summit was a mix of rime ice survivaly skiing and bumpy sustrugified windboard. I dropped into the Lip -- which was cold windpack over ice crust in areas. I skiied to the floor of the ravine, then did laps on the sluice, the right gully twice, and the "lobster claw?" then the trail through the woods all the way back to Pinkham Notch at 2035'.

 

left the next day a little later - skinned up towrds Huntington Ravine, and got a little sidetracked following a drainage i thought was a trail, but soon found the giant well maintained Huntington Ravine trail. Huntington is a little bigger than tucks i think and stands at about 1300v'. There were many ice climbers on various routes, and there was also constant ice fall comeing off the cliffs, most of it smallish...

 

I've been really stoked on skiing the diagnol gully, but a little unsure about acsessing it because of the notorious 50' steep frozen waterfall at the base of the gully, especially since all I had with me was a gen. mountaineering axe, but it proved easy to find a way around on snow - climbers right, and climbing conditions were ideal in the gully -- firm windpack... I had not been too stoked on my rental equipment -- it felt a little awkward -- so I skiied the gully with care, but it was a LOT of fun !

 

At the base of the Ravine I climbed up the far northeast aspect of the ravine by way of a much easier gully, and made my way towrds the summit.

 

The summit was warmer and less windy than the day before. and the skiing was better this time too, and skiied down to the "lobsterclaw?" which was a south faceing aspect in tucks, and much softer than the day before. There were many other people enjoying the fine snow and weather. The Sherman trail back to the parking lot was in soft condition and a tun of fun.

 

Huntington Ravine from Pinkham Notch

 

second summit

 

me about to drop the right gully in tuckermans

 

the Presidential mountains from summit of wash

 

climbers and ice routes in Huntingtons Ravine

 

Huntingtons Ravine, the diagnol gully is hidden, and cuts diagnoly across from left to rigt, ending just above the center ice bulge

 

climbers in the pinnacle

 

possibities for next time

 

in the diagnal

 

south faceing gully in tucks

 

random videoclips

[video:youtube]

 

link to current 3 day forecast for mt washington alpine:

http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/summit_forecast.php

Edited March 13, 2010 by danhelmstadter

[cbcbd]

Sweet. Memories...

It's the "Sherburne" trail, or "Sherbie" for short.

[mountainsloth]

Ah New Hampster... I too have fond memories of growing up there playing in that range.

Thanks for the pictures!

[E-rock]

You're a skiing superhero. Best trip reports I've read all year.

[uglyspud]

Great TR. Spent sometime on Mt Washington when I was back east. What kind of helmet cam do you use?

 

[mw888888888]

Dan - Nice line! 100" pack on mansfield by March 1st, good season for bold lines.

 

Heading back east next week. The snowpack looks great. Thinking lines on Presi Range (west/south facing lines), Greens, and I'm hoping Adirondacks.

[danhelmstadter]

sounds like your in for a great time! I'd love to see the pics - especially of mansfeild.

 

uglyspud - it's a gopro hero, i think they came out with a better modle this year though.

Edited March 23, 2010 by danhelmstadter