Conference bgsdev::skiing

Anybody know what the status is?  when is the high point?

       ...low to moderate avalanche danger - their www page is the place to
    check for status:
    
    http://www.mountwashington.org/MTW_AVLN.HTM
    
    MDL

    
    Usually a good photo and report at www.rsn.com

       I am looking to ski Tuck a few times this year. I have never skiied
     The Sherburne trail and the person I will be skiing with has never
    skiied the mountain. He is a good skier. What are the difficulties one
    should be prepared for when skiing Sherburne ?
    
    Paul

        The Sherburne trail isn't particularly difficult - any good skier
    should be able to handle it.  It's really just a way to get down from
    the bowl.  It usually bumps up and is a little narrow in spots, with
    some occasionally steep sections - nothing like the bowl itself. 
    ...the later it gets in the spring, the less snow there is...
    
        If you hike up with a pack, and aren't accustomed to skiing with a
    pack, it will add a little difficulty.  Speaking from experience, I
    don't recommend skiing it with an external frame pack!
    
    MDL

re       <<< Note 36.188 by NPSS::MDLYONS "Michael D. Lyons DTN 226-6943" >>>

>    pack, it will add a little difficulty.  Speaking from experience, I
>    don't recommend skiing it with an external frame pack!
    
Well, I'll be staying at Pinkham this weekend, doing Tucks on Sat., Wildcat
on Sunday.  I've hiked Tuckermans in the spring, but not skied it.
I'll be telemarking there, nothing real fancy, just the lower part of the bowl.
I can't get my skis, ski boots, water, clothing, food all into my Kelty
Redwing, so I'll have to use my external frame pack.  Looks like I'll be
walking down.  I'll probably try a short run (few dozen yards) in the bowl
with the external frame pack on, just to confirm that it will be real awkward
and throw off my skiing.  Once committed to the Sherborne, there's no way to
bail out to the other way down (walking), correct ?

 - Josh

       ...no, you can bail out at various places - it parallels the
    Tuckerman Ravine Trail for much of the way, although you may have to
    cut through some woods.  Several places it gets pretty close.  One
    potential problem to be aware of is that the Cutler River is *between*
    the Sherburne Trail and the Tuckerman Ravine Trail for some of the way
    including the upper part - consult a topographical map.
    
        I typically ski Tuckerman late in the season, and the Sherburne is
    usually only partly open - you ski down as far as it's open, then cut
    over to the Tuckerman Ravine trail and hike the remainder.
    
        My external frame pack tended to "bounce", making it awkward to
    ski. ...but then again, I am not a telemarker - it could be that it
    won't be as bad telemarking...  It was still better than hiking...
    
    ...have fun
    
    MDL

    If you don't have a large day pack I would go ahead a buy one.  Several
    of them have slots for the skis.  This will make the trip up that much
    easier and the run down that much more fun.  The exterior frame packs
    don't stay put and will tend to go up over your head if you bend over.
    
    I brought downhill gear up one year and mountaineering skis a different
    time.  The downhill gear is a lot heavier and doesn't make the skiing
    that much easier.  If the temperatures are warm the snow is soft
    enought to get a good edge in with the tele skis.  The Sherburne trail
    is a wonderful delight.  It is 2000+ of vertical, as mentioned most of
    it is intermediate terrain.  The toughest skiing down from the bowl is
    the little headwall if it is open.  Steep but short and usually not
    really narrow.

        The snow is falling fast and furiously on mt. Washington. They
      picked a reported 2 feet over the last day or so. There are more
      bouts of unsettled weather to deal with that will bring additional
      snow. Not to mention there seems to be a storm developing that
      looks a lot like the one that just hit. 
      Hopefully I can start planning my assults on the mountain for next
      week. Last year I was able to ski into July. I am getting a real
      crazy felling that August may not be out of the question.
    
    1 CRAZED SKI GUY 

       Well, finally a break in the weather that I could take advantage of.
    Sat. (5/24) was my first assault. The weather was mostly cloudy as I
    started up. The trail became snow covered approx. 1/3 the way up. A 
    light rain started to fall as I approached the hut. After checking
    on conditions I decided not to go into the bowl (the report was noone 
    had been up there yet and there was a fresh 5' of new snow that had
    accumulated).
    The rangers were cautioning skiers to ski where many others had gone.
    This meant the lower snowfield and Hillman's highway. On Hillman's
    they also cautioned, be aware of the 20' wall of snow at the top
    that could avalanche. 
    A couple of runs on Hillman's then back to hojo's where I had left my
    gear for eats.
    Back on my boards and I stated down the Sherburne trail. You can only 
    ski for about a 1/3 of the way.
    There is significantly more snow up in tuck's than was there last year. 
    Expectations at this time are for skiing well into July. And August is
    not out of the question.
    
    Crazed Ski Guy