After such a great snow season, and seeing how much remained at the beginning of July, I had to come back to check it once this August. It was a great day to hike: sunny, 70°s, but a little humid. Of course with skis on the pack, I had to deal with many inquiries and comments from other hikers.
It looked pretty daunting from Connection Cache, where it first came into view. There was snow, but whether it was skiable was another question. I'd skied August '96 and '97, and was surprised to find less snow remaining this year.
From Connection Cache
Up Close
Up close, at best there appeared to be about 30 to 40 vertical feet on a precariously undermined block of glaciated snow, with no easy access point. The bottom edge by the brook was badly undermined. The top 25%-30% was cantilevered back towards the rocks, but not supported anywhere. The side along the Tuckerman Ravine hiking trail had a three to twelve foot drop from the snow surface to the rocks, and this was undercut.
I found one point that was solidly supported, beside the hiking trail, with only a three foot lip. By kicking out a couple steps with crampons, I was able to climb on and off the snow at this point.
I stopped a few feet below the top edge, kicked out a platform, and put on the skis. It was short, but sweet. A couple inches of filthy corn snow on top of a rock hard base. Six, count 'em, six turns max, stopping cautiously a dozen or more feet above the bottom edge.
Skis On!
Six Turns
Three runs without a mishap, and I counted myself lucky. This block of snow won't last long. As the sun melted the surface, water dripped rapidly out of the underside. So much of it is undermined, that it will probably break up into smaller pieces in the next week.
From above
It looked pretty daunting from Connection Cache, where it first came into view. There was snow, but whether it was skiable was another question. I'd skied August '96 and '97, and was surprised to find less snow remaining this year.
From Connection Cache
Up Close
Up close, at best there appeared to be about 30 to 40 vertical feet on a precariously undermined block of glaciated snow, with no easy access point. The bottom edge by the brook was badly undermined. The top 25%-30% was cantilevered back towards the rocks, but not supported anywhere. The side along the Tuckerman Ravine hiking trail had a three to twelve foot drop from the snow surface to the rocks, and this was undercut.
I found one point that was solidly supported, beside the hiking trail, with only a three foot lip. By kicking out a couple steps with crampons, I was able to climb on and off the snow at this point.
I stopped a few feet below the top edge, kicked out a platform, and put on the skis. It was short, but sweet. A couple inches of filthy corn snow on top of a rock hard base. Six, count 'em, six turns max, stopping cautiously a dozen or more feet above the bottom edge.
Skis On!
Six Turns
Three runs without a mishap, and I counted myself lucky. This block of snow won't last long. As the sun melted the surface, water dripped rapidly out of the underside. So much of it is undermined, that it will probably break up into smaller pieces in the next week.
From above
