Who's skiied Tuckerman's Ravine?

“We want to ski Tuckerman's. What should we plan on? What's the best way to get your skiis, poles and boots in? Should we snowshoe in or is the trail well enough packed to walk in? How long will it take? We need lots of info!!! Any body who has been there, please relate the details!”

“UK -- I have never skied Tuck's. However, every year on Patriot's day my family would hike in to watch the skiers. I have been in and out of the Ravine area probably 3 dozen times or more over the last 30 years. My parents skied it in the 50s.

From Pinkham Notch you hike up the Tuck. Ravine Trail for 2.5 -3 miles or so. It is wide enough, and graded to accomodate a snowcat. It is packed down by thousands and thousands of skiers and hikers. It can be pretty slushy on a warm day. Water proof footwear is helpful, as are gaiters. No need for snow shoes or crampons. It is steady uphill climb.

YOu carry your skis and boots on your back. Use your poles as trekking poles. Get a pack that has sleeves for your skis.

Afer this initial hike you arrive at the Hermit Lake shelters (often called the HoJo's). Up above you is the lower headwall and left gully area. YOu can see the bowl up above you from here. The hiketo the bowl is half hour on a regular mountain trail. Again, packed and easily doable in boots. Just slushy and slippery in spots.

In the bowl people drop stuff on a big collection of rocks on the right (the Lunch rocks), put on their ski boots are proceed up the headwall.

BELIEVE WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE HEADWALL. IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE ON 50 DEGREES STEEPS, PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION.

The steepest I have skied is a 40 degree pitch on the North Face at Mt. Snow (VT). 50-60 degrees will seem vertical. YOu climb in your ski boots, skis over your shoulders. It gets steep enough so that the ends of your skis are touching the snow in front of your face as you climb.

Ther are other areas to ski, Hillmans Highway, the right gully etc. Just watch people for a bit and ask questions of folks once you get up there.

From the bottom of the bowl, and from the lunch rocks, it looks deceptively shallow (not steep). I have seen more than one person climb up. Snap their skis on, and then just freeze in place. Watched one guy through binoculars for 45 mintues. Just stood their. Occaisonally turning in place to face the other way. Finally started to slide slip down.

Well .. ...that's enough color commentary for now.”

“UK --

Checks out this pictures.

Quick correction. I think (after looking at Pictures) that it is Hillman's highway that is accessible fromthe Hermit lake shelters on the left.

The left gully is up in to the lefto fthe actual bowl.”

“See definitive article in current issue "Outside."”

“I skied it religously every year when at school in NH.
My first question is when do you want to ski it?
My second question is how good a skier are you?

Get an early start, the parking lot fills up quickly and the Ravine is east facing. Without the direct sun, the snow can harden up and turn icy in the afternoons.
Get a pack that is big enough to carry your boots, a place you can strap on your skis, and room for extra clothing, food, and water.

The hike up the Ravine Trial can get quite packed down and icy in winter. Instep crampons might be a consideration.
If you're in good shape, you can make it to Lunch Rocks in about 2 hours, without stopping at HoJos. It's very important to check the snow conditions sign at HoJo's! It will give you avalanche danger levels in the area and what areas might be closed. Unless you're overnighting the the leanto's head straight for the bowl.
In cold weather hike up in polypro and shorts, in warmer weather, lose the polypro.

Once at lunch rocks (which is on the right side of the bowl) you must decide on where you want to ski.
Left gully - extremely steep and narrow, must be able to perform parallel jump turns in deep snow on steep angle
Left face - not as steep and more open than the left gully
The face, depending on the snow depth, could be steep snow slope or a staircase of frozen waterfalls
the right face, most gentle slope of the whole bowl, a good place for hiking to the ridgeline and beyond.
The right gully, I haven't skied it.
It's also possible to ski the snow fields up on Mt. Washington and then drop down the right face or right gully.
There is a variety of ways to carry your skis up the bowl. Some people hike in ski boots carrying thier skis and poles in their hands, very tiring and difficult on the steeps. I've found that the most comfortable is continue hiking in your hiking boots, with your skis attached to your pack. You should lower your skis so they are not sticking too far above your head, the wind coming over the headwall can be very strong at times and you don't want to be blown over backwards. This setup is intended for hiking to the top of the ridge, where you can find a level spot to put on your boots and set up your skis.
I have never skied Hillman's, a lot more deaths and injuries come from that narrow chute of a trail than from the actual bowl. From HoJo's it looks like it has a doulbe fall line and you have to navigate the people hiking up it. Yikes!
If you don't mind a heavy pack and are lucky enough to get a leanto spot go for it. Nothing beats skiing Tuck's two days in a row!
Then you can ski down a trail (name escapes me) that somewhat parallels the Ravine Trail. What ever you do don't ski down the hiking trail, very dangerous due to all the people hiking on it.”

“Read the Tuck's piece in Outside last night. Pretty good perspective on it. UK grab an issue and read the piece (or check on line for it).”

“What about avalanche danger since last Tuesday' snowstorm? I hear tjat there's another one coming. Good luck.”

“By the way U.K., I have a buddy that wants to ski uit at Easter. Any chance of letting me know how your jaunt goes? I'd really appreciate it. Happy trails.”