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Avalanche in Tuckerman

Original Post
Alan Nagel · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 5

Two climbers avalanched down from the lip, very lucky with only minor injuries from what could have been a pair of fatalities. See
conwaydailysun.com/index.ph…

David Lottmann · · Conway, NH · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 152
Russ Keane · · Salt Lake · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 392

That Boston Herald is an exclusive interview with one of the kids. Pretty frightening to hear it in his words.

"When I started to lose hope, I was at peace with myself. I was ready to move on from this life, and I was kind of happy with it. I wasn’t going to make it, but I was going to just hold on and see what happened. If I slipped away, I would have just been happy and at peace with myself. I kept fighting, but I was quite content with that thought."

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945

Really glad they are safe and basically uninjured. Lot of bad decisions and warning signs that they should have thought about along the way. Noobs in the wilderness in arctic conditions, recipe for disaster, esp on that mountain. Just the fact that they all have the same mnt axe is bothering to me, let alone their choice for "crampons."

RockinOut · · NY, NY · Joined May 2010 · Points: 100

Where is "The Lip" on Mt Washington?

mark felber · · Wheat Ridge, CO · Joined Jul 2005 · Points: 41

Those "crampons" actually work quite well for snowy, icy trails. They're not something I would use on terrain where an ice axe was called for, though.

The part that really disturbs me is that they didn't know which trail to take when they came to the trail junction on the way down.

Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
mark felber wrote:Those "crampons" actually work quite well for snowy, icy trails. They're not something I would use on terrain where an ice axe was called for, though. The part that really disturbs me is that they didn't know which trail to take when they came to the trail junction on the way down.
Or how about continuing on with 70mph winds and getting dark? If I am carrying a mnt axe u can be damn sure I'd have real crampons esp on THAT mountain!

The lip is the area of the rim of the ravine above the head wall. Basically the snow fields roll over into the ravine. There's a very steep section just above the headwall cliffs, this is where these guys ended up.

David Lottmann · · Conway, NH · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 152

On the above photo "The Lip" is the steepest part of Line 7. This is where the summer hiking trail from above "fades" eventually buried under 40+ feet of snow. It is about 45 degrees when filled in later in the season. What the photo doesn't show is how the current conditions are much worse due to low snow = more cliffs and rocks. Here's a photo of the Lip area from 12/31 from the MWAC website:

http://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/wp-content/gallery/tuckerman-novdec-2013/20131231-lip-close-up.jpg

Up close shot of the Lip in Tuckerman Ravine, 12/31

TYJ1981 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 0

"avalanched down from the lip"? Wtf does avalanched down mean?

Jake D. · · Northeast · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 365
TYJ1981 wrote:"avalanched down from the lip"? Wtf does avalanched down mean?
They triggered an avalanche at a spot at the top "skiers left" of the ravine called "the lip" in that photo #7.

good info on NEclimbs with avalanche instructor chiming in. Ignore the delusional Canadian if you can.
David Lottmann · · Conway, NH · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 152

I don’t know Jake, hard to ignore him!

-AKA Dman on NEClimbs

rging · · Salt Lake City, Ut · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 210

Tuckerman's is a good place to go if you want to see inexperienced and sometimes all out moronic behavior. One day I saw about eight rag doll wipe outs within an hour. It made me sick to my stomach after awhile. I also saw a person eject both of his ski boots along with all of his other equipment. I didn't even think that was possible short of falling off a cliff.

It's incredibly hard to determine avalanche danger there due to the massive wind loading.

The Pheonix · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 60
rging wrote:It's incredibly hard to determine avalanche danger there due to the massive wind loading.
I consider it easy... if there's snow there's a pretty significant danger to anyone for any number of reasons. But yes, it's the massive scouring of the fields and the westerns flank and resulting loading that has created tux over the many years.
Jake D. · · Northeast · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 365
rging wrote:Tuckerman's is a good place to go if you want to see inexperienced and sometimes all out moronic behavior. One day I saw about eight rag doll wipe outs within an hour. It made me sick to my stomach after awhile. I also saw a person eject both of his ski boots along with all of his other equipment. I didn't even think that was possible short of falling off a cliff. It's incredibly hard to determine avalanche danger there due to the massive wind loading.
well these guys weren't skiing.. they were hiking to mt washington summit and back. they did not have the knowledge and experience to deal with adverse conditions and got lost on the way down. should have turned off on the Lions head trail before they got to Tucks.

as you can see from the recent photo. tucks isn't "in" for skiing yet.. its mostly rock and ice.
rging · · Salt Lake City, Ut · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 210
The Phoenix wrote: I consider it easy... if there's snow there's a pretty significant danger to anyone for any number of reasons. But yes, it's the massive scouring of the fields and the westerns flank and resulting loading that has created tux over the many years.
OK that's a good one but I wouldn't go that far. When I lived on the east coast I wouldn't even think about it until March.

People underestimate navigating on that mountain, even in the summer. I've taken my own flag markers before but also knowing an exact compass heading is pretty darn important. That and a 100 foot piece of rope to let your partner go exploring for the next cairn.
Eric Engberg · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 0
TYJ1981 wrote:"avalanched down from the lip"? Wtf does avalanched down mean?
Avalanched UP would make more sense?
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northeastern States
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