03-15-2009, 06:48 PM
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Toni Matt Club *  |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Franconia, New Hampshire
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East Snowfields to Right Gully 2009-03-15
Skinned up to Huntington Ravine, climbed Central Gully, continued high onto the East Snow Fields, skied over to Right Gully and down. Huntington Ravine was swarming with ice climbers so I went for the direct line to the Alpine Garden, Central Gully. The snow was softening up nicely. Central Gully was in fine condition for skiing and the ice bulge was minimal. Unfortunately, I started 2 hours too late. As soon as the shade hit the snow, it hardened up instantly.
When I reached the top at 12:30, I checked out Diagonal. It may have been skiable, but I couldn't be sure the oblique angle of the sun and the wind blowing up it wouldn't stiffen it up. So, I marched up high on the East Snow Fields to the point where the wind coming over the shoulder was really hardening the snow. Suited up and skied across the East Snow Fields on firm but casual snow.
Dropped down above Sluice and Right Gully. The firmness of the snow cooled my ambitions for Sluice so I headed for Right Gully. It was prime corn probably 4-6" deep. Ripped it and cut over the knife edge. A bevy of cramponless sliders were tooling around under Sluice. Dropped in and made some nice GSish jump turns down lower Sluice. Stopped at Lunch Rocks and considered what a bozo I was not to check out Sluice first. Thought about booting back up, but motivation had waned. So, I skied out before the Sherbie turned back to ice.
The Little Headwall and the stream bed above were fat. The Sherbie was corn with a couple icy patches up high in the shade.
All in all, a great day on the mountain with fantastic weather with very light wind. Temps were very warm. The ski descents are ready to go with proper softening. I guess this was a much better day that yesterday, when a woman fell 1000' down Left Gully, and later on, a man pitched down through the talus under Central in Huntington Ravine (See news report).
Central and Diagonl Gullies, Huntington Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Ice climbers on Odell's Gully, Huntington Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Ice climber on Yale Gully, Huntington Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Snow climbers, Huntington Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Ice climbers on Pinnacle Gully, Huntington Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Snow climbers turning the bulge on Central Gully, Huntington Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Looking up Central Gully above the bulge, Huntington Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Snow climbers belaying on Central Gully above the bulge, Huntington Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Looking across the East Snow Fields to Dodge's Drop, Mount Washington, March 15, 2009.
Tuckerman Ravine from the bottom of the East Snow Fields, Mount Washington, March 15, 2009.
Ski tracks on the Headwall, Tuckerman Ravine, March 15, 2009.
Route of Central Gully to Right Gully circuit, March 15, 2009.
King Ravine with gully number 1 on the left, March 15, 2009.
Castle Ravine, March 15, 2009.
West side of Mount Washington, March 15, 2009.
West Face of Mount Washington, March 15, 2009.
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Think snow, low winds, and sun! 
Last edited by jumpturn; 03-18-2009 at 10:48 AM.
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03-15-2009, 07:26 PM
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Pinkham Notch Visitor  |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Seacoast, NH
Posts: 8
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Great report! I was looking over your way from wildcat and wishing I was over there! But what a great day to be up in the Whites.
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03-15-2009, 07:35 PM
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Toni Matt Club |
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Not too far from Pico.
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strong work... tuesday?
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03-15-2009, 07:39 PM
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Headwall Master  |
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Charlton, MA
Posts: 365
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Nice work and as usual great pics. Good stuff to think about.
Not to worry, I'm sure you'll get your Huntington fix in soon enough 
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03-15-2009, 08:00 PM
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Toni Matt Club * |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Franconia, New Hampshire
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gpetrics
strong work... tuesday?
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Yup. rog, awf170, and LA are also psyched, so we'll have plenty of photo sl*ts....
Quote:
Originally Posted by djming
Not to worry, I'm sure you'll get your Huntington fix in soon enough |
Not much time left before jetting off ....
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Think snow, low winds, and sun!
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03-15-2009, 08:29 PM
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Toni Matt Club * |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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nice loop jt. great pics as usual. things er lookin good in places. temps looked to have cooled a bit for tuesday, like 5 degrees cooler than today with stronger north winds. south facing may be the ticket, should be good for sloppy tenths or more after today, well, in the obvious places anyway.
wednesday will probably be much warmer though.
rog
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03-15-2009, 09:59 PM
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Toni Matt Club * |
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Very nice. Reps 2U. Hope I can enjoy it b4 it's down to bare bones.
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03-15-2009, 11:19 PM
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Headwall Master |
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 323
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Nice set....of pics
The pics of climbers in of Odell's and then the climbers approaching base of Central are magnificent! .....and no pucker effect like when you view the action ski descent pics on hard -schard-pack like recent Chemin-de Dodo post(near Dodges?). Looks like some great conditions and safety for climbers(ice). Good eye JT!
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03-16-2009, 12:00 AM
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Headwall Master |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Da Bronx, NY
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Looks like a beautiful day was had by all, John. Thanks for the vicarious tour 
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03-16-2009, 08:34 AM
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Moderator Toni Matt Club ** |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: following Diogenes, but the ba$tard threw away the lamp so I'm just stumbling along in the dark!
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Super report! Nice tour and great pix.
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03-16-2009, 12:01 PM
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Toni Matt Club |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Amherst, Mass.
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Nice, but . . . where/how did you get that pic of King Ravine?
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03-16-2009, 12:23 PM
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Moderator Toni Matt Club ** |
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: New New Hampshire
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Great TR: Thanks for sharing - looks like a pretty good day up there.
M@
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03-16-2009, 01:09 PM
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Toni Matt Club * |
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Franconia, New Hampshire
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jshefftz
where/how did you get that pic of King Ravine?
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If I told you, the VTers would make me shoot you! 
Gotta maintain a little NH mystery .....
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Think snow, low winds, and sun!
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03-16-2009, 02:20 PM
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Toni Matt Club |
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: white mountains
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Great pix,
beautiful day and nice tr, thank you -
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