TR Tuckerman Ravine 4.14.13

[mbike-ski]

After 3 years of failed plans to ski tuckerman ravine it was time to get off the seesaw of deliberation. Reports of rain, snow, moderate avy danger had me reconsidering the trip, but worse case alternate plans of a test hike with the packs to ski the sherbourne trail or a lift served day at wildcat or cannon didn’t seem all that bad. The adventure was on

 

The forecast snow never really materialized , Saturday’s reports weren’t as crusty as expected and the avy danger was posted as low Sunday morning – it was time to go! Junior and I set out in intermittet sun and snow showers and it didn’t take us long to work up a sweat with mild temps in the mid/upper thirties.

 

 

As we neared hojo’s the snow was coming down harder. After a quick break and chat with one of the rangers we continued on. The sun shined for one incredible moment as we emerged from the pines exposing the spatial glory of the rising walls of the bowl, then was gone. No words or pics can communicate seeing the awesomeness and pitch of the bowl for the first time

 

 

 

Visibility and skier numbers were low. we observed the various ski routes through the windy mix of snow and balls of packing peanut foam as we booted up before deciding on right gully.

 

 

It was slow going trying to get a foothold in the soft snow and crusty surface below with no real boot ladder. Crampons definitely would have been the way to go for the upper elevations. Youth had the advantage as I peeled off right just before the rock entrance to the gully, telling my son to go as far as he felt comfortable and to remember he still had to get his skis off the pack and click in. He quickly caught up to a group ahead and followed in their boot tracks. He disappeared up into the gully to reach about 3/4 of the way to the headwall. It felt like a lifetime in the wind and snow waiting for him to emerge before following him down.

His smile best describes the ski down through bootish deep cream cheese. (There was no way I was fiddling with a camera for any action shots – it was hard enough managing the pack and skis).

 

 

The sun shined for another brief moment to see our tracks. We toasted with sly fox and a&w before heading down the little headwall

 

 

 

 

The sun came out again for lunch and hydration at hojo’s before setting off down the sherbourne trail.

 

 

The sherbie ski’d nicely top to bottom with soft spring snow and bumps and took us right to the car. It was amazing that an hour later I had gone from full on winter to sitting on the hotel room deck having a beer in shorts and a t.

 

Certainly a great first tuckerman trip, the un-crowded and variable conditions provided more of the alpine adventure that we were looking for vs. mountain party shit show. Since we didn’t reach the top of the headwall, I guess we’ll just have to give it a go next year for the full tux experience

 

 

On the way home Monday we stopped at killington. No better way to end a ski season than 50 degrees, great coverage, and bumps, bumps, and more bumps!

 

 

[moe ghoul]

Awesome, Mike, more good memories right there! I had a chance to go with a few folks this last trip up there, but the crew heading up was way outta my league for that. I need a crew of fat midaged wheezy guys for a good match. And a sled.

[Johnny Law]

Dude you fucking did it ! Welcome to the club, you've joined a rather small number of people to experience the EC BC.

 

Stoked for you dude, Tuxs is the first, the eye opener to what's out there and how strong and capable of a person your are.

 

Your dead on about the seeing the bowl and the feelings you get, pictures can never do the scale of these places or that feeling you get any real justice.

 

If you ever need route info or beta on other places don't hesitate for a second, at least for me the first one sort of ignites a fire to check more places out.

 

Plus you got the kid involved, I can't wait until I can con my kid into some damn fool expeditions.

Edited April 18, 2013 by Johnny Law

[Johnny Style]

Awesome. PASR trip next year?

[Johnny Law]

Awesome. PASR trip next year?

 

Brilliant !

[toast21602]

great report. your son will be moving out west before you know it!

[NMSKI]

Great stuff man! I hope do have adventures like this with my son someday too. Livin it!

[AtomicSkier]

looks like an awesome trip with your son....and congrats on tucks.

[Justo8484]

reading that just made sitting in a desk chair today that much more painful. looks like you had an awesome time!