Tuckermans: Winter in spring

(updated 4-20-2010)

This weekend we turned the clock back a few months. Our expectation for this trip was late spring conditions. In the week leading up to the trip we were expecting to find minimal snowpack, lots of down hiking, and crazy crowds associated with the Inferno race. In the last few days leading into the trip crowds seemed like less of a problem. That was because the forecast was calling for rain, sleet, and some snow. What we got instead was a full return to winter. North Conway picked up 2-3", Pinkham Notch snagged 6-8", and the higher elevations were reporting 10-15"+.

The race was cancelled. So that left the parking lot fairly empty except for hundred or so cars that had been left overnight for the racers.

TK, MD, and I hooked up with an extended party of T's friends and 7 of us hit the trail by 8:45. The trail was only somewhat packed out but the hiking was good and the pace was brisk. I almost immediately wished I had opted for snowboard over skis as my pack weighed many pounds more than in recent years.

HoJo's was a ghost town. Our group nearly doubled the population there. But the rangers were out in force and were jazzed up to discuss the avy conditions. After listening to reports and recommendations our group of 3 decided to lay low and stay low. The other 4 included three newbies to Tucks and one well seasoned vet. As a result they had both the motivation and the confidence to head a little higher. They knocked off some nice turns on the lower half of Hillman's while we had lunch and contemplated afternoon plans elsewhere. Freshies on the Sherburne made it all worthwhile. The snow was like honey - sticky but sweet! What had been dirt and rocks the day before was now a plush carpet and we cruised straight into the parking lot.

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