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Tuckerman's Ravine
After skiing 3 winters back to back (Chamonix, NZ, Chamonix) I can't
exactly not ski just because it's June! But there's a problem -
I am working in Pennsylvania with kids with ADHD and the Pocono
hills have no snow since April. So the night before my day off I
started out for New Hampshire, driving the remains of a Chevy Astro
Minivan with no air-con, with just a beat up boom-box for company
(the stereo had long since expired). I fought with New England freeways
for seven and a half hours to reach Pinkerman's Notch at the foot
of Mt Washington.
The view from the trail |
Looking down the slope |
Looking across the slope |
Let there be snow
After a rather short sleep in the van, at not so early an hour in
the morning I started hiking up towards Tuckerman's ravine. After
2 hours of uphill with skis and boots on my back I reached the Hermit
Lake shelters, and my first view of the Ravine. Thankfully, I was
not wrong and there is snow here at this time of year. Half an hour
further on I was at the foot of the snow patch. I first tried skiing
up the slope, but with an angle of 40 - 50 degrees and a surface
of frozen lumps and pine needles this wasn't going to work. Time
for a boot pack, straight up for a few hundred feet. At the top
of the snow I stepped off onto the rocks for a rest and to sort
my skis out. I noticed as I put my skis on that the snow was undermined
quite a bit at the top, maybe ten feet or so. Anyway, twenty glorious
turns and I was at the bottom again.
May as well go to the top
The second go I decided it was time for crampons, boot packing hard
snow isn't easy. At the top of the snow I realized how close I was
to the top of the mountain, and as I'd come this far it would be
a pity not to visit the summit. Off I went, marching up the rock
strewn path in my ski touring boots. The rocks didn't bother my
feet at all but balance on some of the larger rocks was interesting.
Nearing the summit I came across lots of tourists who had arrived
not by hiking, but by the Toll road or the Cog Railway. They were
manly fat and mostly very unfit and gave me some very strange looks
carrying skis and wearing touring boots.
 
Sixteen hours driving for two descents
On my descent I met quite a few hikers, who inquired as to trail
and snow conditions as opposed to being treated as a freak show
by the summit tourists. My second run down the snow was much nicer
than the first, the afternoon sun having softened the snow somewhat.
All that was left was my drive home - over 8 hours of stoplights
and clogged freeways. Was it all worth it? Hell yeah, would I do
it again tomorrow, but there has to be snow to find somewhere else…
Words and Pictures
from Tom
Greenall - Natives Resort Reporter
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