No snow anymore in Tucks... confirmation

Frankontour

Frankontour

New member
OUFFF, I'm just back from Tuckerman Ravine for my 1st day ever on the mountain. And effectively, there is no snow anymore near the waterfall of the Lip. <BR> <BR>For a first day, may be it was a big thing to hike from Pinkham Notch to the Summit, but I found it quite cool, although I didn't really liked the most dangerous part, into the ravine, as there rocks were very often wet and it was enough sliding in dangerous places. <BR> <BR>Was with my father... who wanted to see that mountain (but he stopped when it became too heavy, above the Lunch Rocks). It was really foggy this morning, so we didn't see the mountain at all from the road. In fact, the first thing we saw was the Dodge's drop, being mid-way between Pinkham Notch and Hojo's <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2693.jpg" ALT="Dodge's Drop"> <BR> <BR>I wonder if he still thinks I was joking, saying this is a ski trail... <BR> <BR>At Hojo's, we had a super nice view of both Hillman's and Tucks, but it only took few minutes before we lost most of the view and after that, it was really foggy in the ravine until we left the mountain later in the afternoon. <BR> <BR>Tucks : <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2694.jpg" ALT="Tucks in summer"> <BR> <BR>When I went down from the top (which is really frustrating when there is 500 persons on top of which 75% climbed in car, but were proudly posing in photo near the 6288' banner.), I told me... oh-oh..... looking to the place where I knew the ravine was : <BR> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/messages/8/2695.jpg" ALT="Oh shit"> <BR> <BR>I've been lucky to avoid the rain, at least, but it wasn't the very best day to try the mountain a first time. At least we got a lot of fun and I think I will be ready to have my skis and my backpack, on the next time I'm there !! <BR> <BR>THINK SNOW !!!
 
Back on the steepness discussion, I wanted to compare Tucks with the Pins Rouges. In Summer, it's a little bit tougher, as the snowdepth reduce a lot the steepness of Tucks, but according to what I saw, I don't think the Chute and Center Gully are steeper than the Pins Rouges... even in summer, so they're possibly less steep than PR during spring. BUT OK, they're almost 3x higher, so it's quite more impressive than PR for this point, but their vertical weren't a surprise for me. <BR> <BR>Of course, on the side of the Icefall, the lower part of the ravine is so much steep that it's tough to believe it's skiable in winter. I guess it's where most of the snow from the summit ends, cause it looks a lot steeper than the Chute, in summer. <BR> <BR>A sure thing, it's surely really hairy even in april and I would only ski that ravine being confident of my equipment.
 
Hmm, the BBs are really quiet these days... <BR> <BR>If someone of you would like to see few other pics of Tucks sunday, you can see them at this address : <A HREF="http://cf.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankontour502" TARGET="_top">http://cf.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankontour502</A> <BR> <BR>and just click on the "Tucks" album
 
Hey Frank- I was up Tucks last weekend finishing up a backpacking trip. I didn't see any snow or signs of snow but seeing as how it was 75F didn't really expect too. The really odd thing I saw was a very large bullfrog (not a French Canadian cut)at the top of the waterfall. How it got there is a real mystery unless it was in bird droppings. I took the Lion Head trail down- really fun trail. My daughter and I also did a 4 day backpack trip on the Franconia Ridge- you may want to check it out- I consider it to be much better hiking than Tuckerman's- partly because of the Mt. Washington auto road, but also because it is more of a narrow ridge with excellent views each way. <BR> <BR>I did meet and talk to many French Canadians- its very close to Montreal. <BR>Cheers
 
Hey Frontrange ! glad to read you ;) <BR> <BR>For the snow, there was still some snow on august 6, and enough to be visible from the close view of the camera from Wildcat. So going there one weekend before and we would probably have seen some snow ! <BR> <BR>Is bullfrog a huge frog ?? We've seen a dead black bear on the side of road 115 (or was it road 2 ?), but I didn't see some big frogs. <BR> <BR>Thanks for the comments about the Lion's Head trail. It should be quite less crowded than the Tucks' one. What's the difficulty and danger level, in that trail ? We consider to come back this year and my father would like to at least hike to the summit of Tucks. Boott Spur trail or Lion's Head trail... that is the question now ;) <BR> <BR>And for Franconia ridge, yep, it should be quite cool for hiking and it's also closer of here (about 45 minutes less than Tucks). Nevertheless, for this year, I push on Mt Wash, cause I want to ski it next year and to know it a little bit better ;) Next years, I would like to discover the other big peaks of New England.
 
Hi Frank- Yes a bullfrog is a big frog. <BR>Lion Head is fairly steep but by no means hazardous. I'd definitely recommend it. If its wet/raining they say to stick to Tuckerman's. I've never done Boot Spur but the guidebook says there is a very steep exposed area. Usually when they say steep you can count on some climbing- not usually real nasty but more than the normnal hiker is used to. <BR> <BR>I'd definitely recommend seeing the other big peaks- if I lived as close as you I'd be down a couple times a month- but from Ohio its a once a year trip. Out of Franconia there are several hikes in and around Cannon Mt- you can even take the tram up and hike from there. <BR> <BR>I'll try posting some of my backpack pix when they get back- I usually use my film camera when in the woods- it seems more trustworthy as the batteries do not run out! <BR> <BR>Cheers
 
Thanks for the infos, Frontrange. Patrick also told me that the Boott Spur had big steps and it wasn't easy. It's weird as looking to the topo map, it looks quite less steep than Tucks/Lion's Head. <BR> <BR>I understand that, from Ohio, it's not a trip you can do each week !! I would certainly go more often if I didn't have Montreal to traverse, the borders to traverse and 3h30-4h30 of drive to reach the mountains ! <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":("> <BR> <BR>If you have some great pics, feel free to post them. It's always good to look... even in summer, particularly when it can give us ideas of places to ski during winter <IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"><IMG SRC="http://www.firsttracksonline.com/discus2/clipart/happy.gif" ALT=":)"> hehe
 
A Bull frog is commonly called a Wawaron (spelling?) in French. <BR> <BR>One thing about Boot Spur... it doesn't zigzag like Lion's Head - It is straight and exposed along the ridge. The scenery from this route is breathtaking, the hike might be that way also.
 
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