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I know Mt Washington gets dangerous, but I've been eying the North slide of Tripyramid in Waterville Valley, and a few other spots in the white mountains. Steep and narrow. My buddies and I have beacons and know how to dig pits, but I'm more interested in past seasons avalanche data to get an idea of what areas slide in what conditions.
Guess only reported avalanches on Mt Washington, for better or worse. Seems that the only ones listed here are those that resulted in at least one fatality.
Guess only reported avalanches on Mt Washington, for better or worse. Seems that the only ones listed here are those that resulted in at least one fatality.
OP, I’m not aware of a site like you’re looking for. Slides are rare outside of mt Washington but they do happen. One took out some army dudes this past winter (or maybe it was the winter before that) bear smuggs, for instance
I’d be curious to see/hear what you end up doing at tripyramid!
As someone who ski mountaineers every winter in the white mountains week after week from Dec - July.. please take peoples responses with a grain of salt. (Mine included).
Someone saying that slides outside of Mt Washington dont occur is 100% incorrect. It also shows they have no knowledge of the area as the white mountains comprise of many many peaks and ranges and the range Mt Washington is in (The Presidential Range) contains numerous peaks that have avalanche slopes.
To say they only occur on Mt Washington is wrong. Beyond Mt Clay, Mt Jefferson, Mt Adams (which all have avalanche paths) there are plenty of other areas in the whites and beyond that slide.
With that said - historical data outside of Mt Washington Valley is limited. If there are new zones you wish to explore I would highly recommend hiking them in the off season. The best tool to use to understand historical data is to simply hike the line and take notes of any avalanche paths. Additionally - you should understand terrain traps and how the snow will travel if it does move and to investigate those areas.
Lastly I would wait till the pack goes isothermic in the spring when you can truly get into these areas with less consequences. (I say that lightly as we all saw what happened in Raymond last spring)
North sides will be a different story than east and south aspects as they do not see much sun and will not have much of a melt freeze cycle.
If you are beyond all that (however you may interpret that to be) then venture into these new areas with knowledgeable buddies. Take your time... work your way up digging pits... stay in safe zones... take it foot by foot... if the first 1-2 missions are simply scouting missions then so be it. Then when everything lines up take your shot.
While none of this really helps your inquiry - I hope some of it sheds light on the mindset you need when venturing in the whites.
InfamouslyJonesAs someone who ski mountaineers every winter in the white mountains week after week from Dec - July.. please take peoples responses with a grain of salt. (Mine included).
I think you misinterpreted my poor phrasing... I was trying to point out that the only avalanches on the site linked above were those that resulted in one or more fatalities, and very little comes up when you enter New Hampshire. I was just hoping to find historical avalanche data to help have an understanding of where slides occur in a given area before I get there. I still fully intend to take all necessary safety precautions. I'm always careful taking routes up that are under 30º, dig pits, do trailhead beacon tests, check the weather etc, but I have not toured much in New England, where I live once again.
I actually hiked Tripyramid with my dad about a week ago and we were planning routes going up for skiing in the winter. Spotted some steep lines that were more south east facing on the way up through trees that would be easier to lap. Figured snow will fill in faster there for making trips out there worthwhile before the slide is skiable. Also noticed an unmarked trail that looked like it was a route for vehicles/cats right before the trail splits off to go up the ridge. Didn't get a chance to walk it, bit it may provide a better skin track than the first stretch of the ridge west of the slide. Have family that lives here and I've hiked Tripyramid probably 20 times in the summer as well as bunch of other stuff in the area.
Hiked Mt Washington a couple years ago. Went up Lions Head and back down the ravine.
**This post was edited on Oct 30th 2019 at 4:33:06pm
OP, I’m not aware of a site like you’re looking for. Slides are rare outside of mt Washington but they do happen. One took out some army dudes this past winter (or maybe it was the winter before that) bear smuggs, for instance
I’d be curious to see/hear what you end up doing at tripyramid!
It was March 14th, 2018. Huge day in the notch! My buddy and I were skiing the birthday bowls off of spruce peak. Had some sluff slides that were concering. We got to the bottom and saw a bunch of young national guard men trainong to do ice rescues. They giggled and laughed about setting off a slide earlier in the day. They kept going and set off another slide injuring 8 of them. Complete morons!
chris.goodhueThe wording of your post doesn't shed alot of positive light regarding your experience on the subject.
**This post was edited on Oct 30th 2019 at 8:00:02pm
RudyGarmischI encourage OP to post this on the TGR forums. They're nice there.
i swear you could be stranded in the desert and if you whispered "avalanche" some skier would appear out of thin air to hit you with some vague condescension
they won't give you any information or help whatsoever, but the dependability of the response is just amazing
partyandBSIt was March 14th, 2018. Huge day in the notch! My buddy and I were skiing the birthday bowls off of spruce peak. Had some sluff slides that were concering. We got to the bottom and saw a bunch of young national guard men trainong to do ice rescues. They giggled and laughed about setting off a slide earlier in the day. They kept going and set off another slide injuring 8 of them. Complete morons!
Anyway, snapped this pic. Crazy gear!
that's really interesting, thanks for the picture and post. i wish i'd seen that. i was around that day but i was inbounds at smuggs. wish i couldve seen the slide path too
