Tuckerman's 5-16-15

Harvey wrote

I assume they will include a CLINIC on jump turns.

I may have whipped a couple out of my bag 'o tricks!

Nice pics

Nice pics and great story.  Hard to capture the scale of the setting, isn't it?

Bottom of Chute from Chris Kidd on Vimeo.

Sluice from Chris Kidd on Vimeo.

Videos embedded.

I held off reading this until the pics were in. Great story.  May sound odd, but I really get something from the descriptions of the fear of exposure and DNF terrain.

I've never been to Tuckerman when there was snow.  This description makes me realize that it's probably not wise for me to ski it unless I'm willing to get comfortable on releasable bindings.

Probably a good thing I didn't bring my kids there this year!  Wow, intense.  Would an ice ax and crampons have helped with the steeper part of the climb?   really great stuff, an incredible TR.

Reading the TR without the pictures was great - the pictures really make it eye popping. That is some steep that the photos from below captured. Thanks.

One nice thing about Tuckerman's, as extreme as it CAN be, is that it doesn't have to be extreme at all.  That assumes you don't get yourself up there in bad weather or the wrong time of year, where things might be more out of your hands.  Sure, the hike is rigorous, but I'm going to try and make it a family trip next year.  There were as many people headed up the trail Saturday without skis as there were with, including young kids.  Also, as to skiing, you can make it as easy or difficult as you want it to be.  Sure, we chose an agressive climb/line up the right aspect of LG, but we could have chosen a different route up LG that wasn't as exposed and not quite as steep, or not gone into LG at all.  Conditions permitting, someone can have fun just hiking up into the bottom section of the bowl, not going into the chutes and tackling the lip and cornices.  I wouldn't want my choices (just a few among MANY options) to keep anyone away from the ravine.  It really is an awe inspiring place where you can test yourself physically on the hike (you don't have a choice about that), and then mentally and technically in the ravine as much or as little as you are comfortable with.

Ray.....the ice axe I left at the bottom of the ravine might have been useful in LG.  I joked about putting it on my pack just because it was cool, but I did buy the thing with the intention of using it (another soccer and backcountry skiing buddy of mine wants to hit Colden Trap Dyke), and it probably could have been useful on that LG climb. It wasn't necessary, but if would have been a safety blanket of sorts.  I told my brother I was going to go into the ravine prepared for anything, and then I left it below.  Next time I'll leave the axe on the pack no matter what line we tackle, and I'll consider using it on slopes that steep in the future.  

Crampons wouldn't have helped.  The face was soft enough for a good boot pack.  If anything, given that the snow was soft, crampons might have cut through too much.

JTG4eva! wrote

One nice thing about Tuckerman's, as extreme as it CAN be, is that it doesn't have to be extreme at all.  That assumes you don't get yourself up there in bad weather or the wrong time of year, where things might be more out of your hands.  Sure, the hike is rigorous, but I'm going to try and make it a family trip next year.  There were as many people headed up the trail Saturday without skis as there were with, including young kids.  Also, as to skiing, you can make it as easy or difficult as you want it to be.  Sure, we chose an agressive climb/line up the right aspect of LG, but we could have chosen a different route up LG that wasn't as exposed and not quite as steep, or not gone into LG at all.  Conditions permitting, someone can have fun just hiking up into the bottom section of the bowl, not going into the chutes and tackling the lip and cornices.  I wouldn't want my choices (just a few among MANY options) to keep anyone away from the ravine.  It really is an awe inspiring place where you can test yourself physically on the hike (you don't have a choice about that), and then mentally and technically in the ravine as much or as little as you are comfortable with.

True for the most part. But the ravine during this time of year can be dangerous just by standing at the base. A few years ago, I skied the ravine in May. I hiked up Chute and skied down then went up Left Gully. Just as I passed into Left Gully proper and started ascending by the rock wall, I could hear screams and shouts from the ravine.

I figured it was someone that yard saled or did something spectacular. But I later learned that a VW sized boulder came crashing down Chute where I was skiing just 15 minutes ago. The boulder split in two pieces and one piece careened toward a skier hiking up. The skier played it good and waited to see what direction the split boulder would go and then jumped out of the way at the last moment.

No one was hurt but even standing at the base of the bowl of goodness forbid lunch rocks can be dangerous even if you are not skiing. With snow melting, anything can happen. Even though most of the ice has long since come down now, that day I learned a valuable lesson not to underestimate the ravine even after you think everything that might come down already has.

Anyways, not trying to dissuade a family trip but do be sure to educate family members and position them in a safe spot with easy exit strategies and with the understanding they need to stay alert.

JTG4eva! wrote

Ray.....the ice axe I left at the bottom of the ravine might have been useful in LG.  I joked about putting it on my pack just because it was cool, but I did buy the thing with the intention of using it (another soccer and backcountry skiing buddy of mine wants to hit Colden Trap Dyke), and it probably could have been useful on that LG climb. It wasn't necessary, but if would have been a safety blanket of sorts.  I told my brother I was going to go into the ravine prepared for anything, and then I left it below.  Next time I'll leave the axe on the pack no matter what line we tackle, and I'll consider using it on slopes that steep in the future.  

Crampons wouldn't have helped.  The face was soft enough for a good boot pack.  If anything, given that the snow was soft, crampons might have cut through too much.

From the way you have stated your perception of the need for crampons or an ice axe it sounds like you might not have much if any experience with either. These tools on steep terrain when used properly can save your life, when not used properly can result in severe injury and even death. I would suggest taking a course to learn how to use them and to practice every season before venturing into terrain that warrants their use. I apologize if you have the experience or knowledge, and if you do I am sure you understand why I said what I did.

Good read and better advice PT.  Like I said, I intend to use them, meaning I haven't yet.  Before doing something like the trap dike I'd definitely do some learning, and a few short ice climbs.  The equipment is only as good as your knowledge of how to use it.

JTG4eva! wrote

Now, I guess I didn't pay enough attention in my research, or maybe nobody ever really mentioned it in any TFT or other threads I read about Tucks, but I wasn't mentally prepared for what came next......which was the last .7 grueling miles to the base of the ravine.  PNVC to Hojo's you cover  2.4 miles in roughly 120 minutes, or 50 minutes per mile, with an elevation gain of almost 1,900 feet (average of 790 vertical feet gained per mile), an exhausting trek with heavy pack......and it gets worse from there.  The last .7 will take almost 50 minutes as the pace slows.  This final section of the hike will see you gain 600 feet in elevation (average of 857 vertical feet gained per mile).  Those differences may not seem like much, but the last section is much steeper and much more demanding.  But persevere you do, and you achieve the prize! (cue heavens parting music)

Nice TR.  I skied Tuckerman a couple of years ago for the first and only time in early May under very rare bluebird skies, and like you and the bit between HoJo's and the base of the ravine surprised me too.  In fact this entire trip sounds almost verbatim my experience up there.  What made the hike up Left Gully hard for me (other than being fat and out of shape) was the boot pack would fail when I'd place my "load" on it and I had to kick a new step in almost every time to get enough purchase.  By the time I was half way up at that choke point, I was at my absolute limit.  I just wanted to sit down and be done, but of course I couldn't.  I trudged on and went right like you.  I will say the only time I was a little worried was that little climb under the steep section of the ridge.  You would definitely go for a ride if you fell there.  Once I got my skis on and got in, it was about 4 to 5 turns, stop and breath heavily for me for a few minutes, repeat.  By the time I got to the bottom, it was already time to leave.  When I tell people that it took 10 hours from car door to car door to make one run, and I can't wait to do it again, they give me a strange look.  I guess if you don't do it, you don't understand...

CavemanRC wrote

When I tell people that it took 10 hours from car door to car door to make one run, and I can't wait to do it again, they give me a strange look.  I guess if you don't do it, you don't understand...

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