Upcoming weekend April 11/12 - yes/no?

[MAXIMUS]

I've been watching the weather for this weekend for Tux. The forecast looks grim. Rain ending as snow Sat. morning. Summit temps in 20's.

Any advice? Should we wait for the following weekend? I don't want to ski ice - we are looking for the classic corn snow. We don't have crampons and ice axes.

[Luddite]

I was debating this weekend as well. Today's avy report doesn't sound too great;

"Winter weather continues to grip the mountain with light snow showers overnight totaling 0.4" (1cm) associated with wind velocities peaking at 71mph (115kph). This morning wind speeds are pushing close to 60mph (96kph) from the WNW with a temperature of 12F (-11C). This new snow doesn't sound like much precipitation and frankly it's not. However this past weekend we had a similar event with 0.6" (1.5cm) that created pockets of instability under the Headwall Ice, in the Lip and Sluice. Some of these pockets failed a day later due to heavy rain demonstrating their slab properties. So expect isolated pockets of instability mainly in the Headwall, Lip and Sluice surrounded by very hard icy surfaces. These hard conditions are pretty unforgiving under ski or board. As Brian stated yesterday "The Mountain has received quite a bit of rain lately as well as some slushy snow. All of that water has now transformed to the frozen state and it isn't likely to get anywhere near the melting point today. The skiing conditions are terrible and long sliding falls are a real concern. Bring crampons, an ice axe and the ability to use these tools in order to safely travel in steep terrain." Watching the forecasted temperatures and wind speeds will be very important to determine if any softening will occur. The mercury rising to about 15F (-9.5C) today and up towards 20F (-7C) tomorrow won't do much to provide heat to the snow surface."

Unless some unanticipated warming happens along I'm thinking a week delay..

[2plankerider]

pardon me for sounding like a TUX elitist, BUT in the 18 years i have been playing on the rockpile and weather forecasts, i have learned to not let a weather forecast fully dictate my decision to go or not to go. Weather changes quick for the good and the bad. I have gone forward with a tux trips on less than stellar forecasts only to have it become a pristine day. I understand everyone wants the classic corn, as do i, but i have learned to go when you can go and assess the situation when you are there.
waiting for the next weekend, who knows...i can assure you it will be a zoo though. (inferno weekend)
of course this is easy for me, as it is a quick 2 hr. drive to get there. I was looking at the weather for the weekend and thought it was shaping up to be pretty nice...
regardless, i'll be there tommorrow.

[2plankerider]

Originally Posted by Luddite

I was debating this weekend as well. Today's avy report doesn't sound too great;

"Winter weather continues to grip the mountain with light snow showers overnight totaling 0.4" (1cm) associated with wind velocities peaking at 71mph (115kph). This morning wind speeds are pushing close to 60mph (96kph) from the WNW with a temperature of 12F (-11C). This new snow doesn't sound like much precipitation and frankly it's not. However this past weekend we had a similar event with 0.6" (1.5cm) that created pockets of instability under the Headwall Ice, in the Lip and Sluice. Some of these pockets failed a day later due to heavy rain demonstrating their slab properties. So expect isolated pockets of instability mainly in the Headwall, Lip and Sluice surrounded by very hard icy surfaces. These hard conditions are pretty unforgiving under ski or board. As Brian stated yesterday "The Mountain has received quite a bit of rain lately as well as some slushy snow. All of that water has now transformed to the frozen state and it isn't likely to get anywhere near the melting point today. The skiing conditions are terrible and long sliding falls are a real concern. Bring crampons, an ice axe and the ability to use these tools in order to safely travel in steep terrain." Watching the forecasted temperatures and wind speeds will be very important to determine if any softening will occur. The mercury rising to about 15F (-9.5C) today and up towards 20F (-7C) tomorrow won't do much to provide heat to the snow surface."

Unless some unanticipated warming happens along I'm thinking a week delay..

well now, after reading that maybe you should delay....
i will still be there tommorrow.

get it when you can, and friday is when i can.

[NtrentT]

Originally Posted by 2plankerider

pardon me for sounding like a TUX elitist, BUT in the 18 years i have been playing on the rockpile and weather forecasts, i have learned to not let a weather forecast fully dictate my decision to go or not to go. Weather changes quick for the good and the bad. I have gone forward with a tux trips on less than stellar forecasts only to have it become a pristine day. I understand everyone wants the classic corn, as do i, but i have learned to go when you can go and assess the situation when you are there.
waiting for the next weekend, who knows...i can assure you it will be a zoo though. (inferno weekend)
of course this is easy for me, as it is a quick 2 hr. drive to get there. I was looking at the weather for the weekend and thought it was shaping up to be pretty nice...
regardless, i'll be there tommorrow.

I agree, I'll be up Fri - Sun, I'm hoping for the best, but regardless it will be a good time.

There's no such thing as a Bad Tux Trip in my book if everyone comes home safely.

[Fanatic1]

Originally Posted by NtrentT

There's no such thing as a Bad Tux Trip in my book if everyone comes home safely.

And the people said, "AMEN".

[brakeformoose]

http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/forecast.php

This forecast isn't that bad. It may not be all that warm but it could be worse.

[MAXIMUS]

Originally Posted by 2plankerider

pardon me for sounding like a TUX elitist, BUT in the 18 years i have been playing on the rockpile and weather forecasts, i have learned to not let a weather forecast fully dictate my decision to go or not to go. Weather changes quick for the good and the bad. I have gone forward with a tux trips on less than stellar forecasts only to have it become a pristine day. I understand everyone wants the classic corn, as do i, but i have learned to go when you can go and assess the situation when you are there.
waiting for the next weekend, who knows...i can assure you it will be a zoo though. (inferno weekend)
of course this is easy for me, as it is a quick 2 hr. drive to get there. I was looking at the weather for the weekend and thought it was shaping up to be pretty nice...
regardless, i'll be there tommorrow.

That is why I was hoping to go this weekend - less crowds. What is inferno weekend? A tux "Burning Man"?

[Fanatic1]

Inferno weekend is when hoards of people decend on Tux to rape, pillage & plunder the ravine, essntially destroying what's left of the snowpack and generally burning the conditions to the ground! It is essentially an 48 hour party that could be likened to Mardigras in NH. Don't forget the !

[bucksaw]

Things look to be improving, hopefully there will be sun and corn.

[RR]

Guys and gals!

A little bird tells me folks should be ready for a wintry shock...and some wind loaded powder this w/e.

Be smart!

[wildwoman]

Inferno weekend. I will be there! Question: Is it preferred by the snow patrol/ rangers that we skin up the hiking trail as opposed to the ski trail in the winter?

[PwdrHound]

I prefer you skin up the Tuckerman Ravine Trail

Haven't been up in a couple of weeks. I can only assume the Sherby (Ski Trail) isn't in great condition for skinning. IMO, The Tux Trail is better suited for Skinning whatever time of year! Don't get me wrong, the Sherby is good for skinning but, it depends how hard you want to work. The tux is nice because it is lower angle and you don't have to worry about skiers coming down the trail!

[Fanatic1]

It is preferred that ascents be made on the Tux trail especially that weekend as there will be heavy downhill traffic on the Sherbie....

[NCRMEDIAXtreme]

hmmm this does not bode well for the powers at be, they want to send us where we can ski and grab good footage, yes we have possibly convinced them to let us do the INFERNO (i was told it was a DAY not a weekend thing?) but still this was to be our dry run, guess tomorrow nights weather forecast will say it all, though not sure what it is we are looking for to decide whether we can film it (much less ski it)

plus if a summit hike is washed out that puts a MAJOR damper on our filming plans....