Greg Snow
05-23-2000, 05:59 PM
GOOD KARMA IN TUCKERMAN RAVINE
Given the fact that hiking and then skiing Tuckerman Ravine involves many variables, most governed by a much higher authority, I always look for any positives that indicate divine acceptance.
This year the core group of us was gathering from Maine, New York, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, and Minneapolis. Karma #1 was the group united at the Story Book motel having drinks in the hot tub. # 2 Good Karma was the reopening of “Yesterday’s” breakfast joint in Jackson, followed by an incredible day of spring skiing at Sunday River, suggested by a local at Yesterday’s.
A dinner at the Red Parka Pub fueled us up for the Saturday adventure at Tuck’s with further morning nourishment again provided by Yesterday’s.
The rangers at Pinkham notch reported that a fine day was dawning in the bowl, sunny, temperatures in the 50’s with a chance of crevasses, falling ice, and snow slides. The 2-hour hike up to HoJo’s commenced after the mandatory pack weighing and then the traditional bow to the mountain Gods, our packs ranged from 45 to 58 pounds depending on the Coors factor. Fine hiking conditions prevailed as we all stripped down to shorts and T-shirts. HoJo’s picture window provided an awesome view of Tuckerman Ravine and Hillman Highway, Karma-3 was the addition to the HoJo store of a really cool and useful wicking long sleeve top adorned with the Tucks logo.
Arriving at Lunch rocks was it’s usual relief, only this time the sweet sounds of a saxophone serenaded us as we prepared to hike up the bowl. The hike up the center took about an hour and gave a preview of the steep and narrow to come. We all stopped where the snow ended and clicked into our skis, first turns were deceptively easy, soft snow on the shoulder of Mt. Washington. The only anti-karma came as a group of boarders and skiers stopped at the top and bottom of the 55 degree 15 foot wide pitch. Once they all cleared their butts out of the way we began the all too few great turns on the headway. Our group skied across to access the left gully, carefully dodging the loose snow that was forming mini avalanches that were moving faster than our skis. Left Gully was as exciting and rewarding as ever, steeps narrows, and great snow. The left center of the main headwall was a short hike for some nice turns ending the skiing portion of our program.
Other major Karma was provided by several people bagging their own runs to rescue the buried equipment of their fallen brothers and sisters. 2 most excellent skiers jumped over the not so frozen waterfall and lived to ski another day. The lunch rocks cheering section applauded the numerous crashes and other crazy behavior, one tele skier had a bad run down the bowl then redeemed himself by pulling off a helicopter over a jump beside the rocks.
We all knew the day was ending when the shadows descended over the bowl and our resident saxophonist played the national anthem. Our decent began by going down the rocks to HoJo’s then donning our skis for a short ski down the Sherburne trail. The trail turned from patchy snow to dirt all too soon, but some enterprising skiers had carved an alternate trail beside the main trail providing a slide rather than a hike for at least a few minutes.
My personal Karma was a Norwegian elkhound bounding down the hiking trail, my Elkhound died last year, and this was the first one I’d seen since.
The next day was partial rain, some sun, and loads of fun skiing at Wildcat Mountain directly across from Mt. Washington.
This group of ski adventurers has been doing Tucks for almost 20 years, and we all plan to keep doing it as long as the most excellent Mt. Washington Karma keeps flowing.
Greg Snow
gasnow@wcco.cbs.com
Given the fact that hiking and then skiing Tuckerman Ravine involves many variables, most governed by a much higher authority, I always look for any positives that indicate divine acceptance.
This year the core group of us was gathering from Maine, New York, Denver, Ft. Lauderdale, and Minneapolis. Karma #1 was the group united at the Story Book motel having drinks in the hot tub. # 2 Good Karma was the reopening of “Yesterday’s” breakfast joint in Jackson, followed by an incredible day of spring skiing at Sunday River, suggested by a local at Yesterday’s.
A dinner at the Red Parka Pub fueled us up for the Saturday adventure at Tuck’s with further morning nourishment again provided by Yesterday’s.
The rangers at Pinkham notch reported that a fine day was dawning in the bowl, sunny, temperatures in the 50’s with a chance of crevasses, falling ice, and snow slides. The 2-hour hike up to HoJo’s commenced after the mandatory pack weighing and then the traditional bow to the mountain Gods, our packs ranged from 45 to 58 pounds depending on the Coors factor. Fine hiking conditions prevailed as we all stripped down to shorts and T-shirts. HoJo’s picture window provided an awesome view of Tuckerman Ravine and Hillman Highway, Karma-3 was the addition to the HoJo store of a really cool and useful wicking long sleeve top adorned with the Tucks logo.
Arriving at Lunch rocks was it’s usual relief, only this time the sweet sounds of a saxophone serenaded us as we prepared to hike up the bowl. The hike up the center took about an hour and gave a preview of the steep and narrow to come. We all stopped where the snow ended and clicked into our skis, first turns were deceptively easy, soft snow on the shoulder of Mt. Washington. The only anti-karma came as a group of boarders and skiers stopped at the top and bottom of the 55 degree 15 foot wide pitch. Once they all cleared their butts out of the way we began the all too few great turns on the headway. Our group skied across to access the left gully, carefully dodging the loose snow that was forming mini avalanches that were moving faster than our skis. Left Gully was as exciting and rewarding as ever, steeps narrows, and great snow. The left center of the main headwall was a short hike for some nice turns ending the skiing portion of our program.
Other major Karma was provided by several people bagging their own runs to rescue the buried equipment of their fallen brothers and sisters. 2 most excellent skiers jumped over the not so frozen waterfall and lived to ski another day. The lunch rocks cheering section applauded the numerous crashes and other crazy behavior, one tele skier had a bad run down the bowl then redeemed himself by pulling off a helicopter over a jump beside the rocks.
We all knew the day was ending when the shadows descended over the bowl and our resident saxophonist played the national anthem. Our decent began by going down the rocks to HoJo’s then donning our skis for a short ski down the Sherburne trail. The trail turned from patchy snow to dirt all too soon, but some enterprising skiers had carved an alternate trail beside the main trail providing a slide rather than a hike for at least a few minutes.
My personal Karma was a Norwegian elkhound bounding down the hiking trail, my Elkhound died last year, and this was the first one I’d seen since.
The next day was partial rain, some sun, and loads of fun skiing at Wildcat Mountain directly across from Mt. Washington.
This group of ski adventurers has been doing Tucks for almost 20 years, and we all plan to keep doing it as long as the most excellent Mt. Washington Karma keeps flowing.
Greg Snow
gasnow@wcco.cbs.com