Mt Washington/Presidentials 2020

[Nipples]

Day 2

After a great nights rest I woke to a light rain. Figured today I’d explore King Ravine. Which is in the northern presidentials off of Mt. Adams. Never have been there before or anywhere in the section of the mountain range. Started the tour in a light rain climbing through maple forest which eventually switched to pine forest.

First 2.5 miles was super easy skinning with the same mellow pitch. The last 0.8 miles to base of the Great Gully was much to be desired. Not only was i now breaking trail, it got incredible steep, excessive over growth and sections of car sized rocks with holes that seemed like they dropped into oblivion.

Eventually i made to the base of the great gully which is the pinnacle of king. Clouds were rolling in and out... I already knew I wasn’t going to ski the line top to bottom from what i read about it.  This was a personal recon mission to grab beta on the zone. Climbed up to just shy of the first ice bulges.

Looked to be 3 serious ice bulges In steepest section of the gully. While i think i could i have climbed through them without issue, but doing that then skiing it would top 3 my list of stupidest things I’ve ever done. The total line is way bigger then anything in tuxs, steeper and definitely more committing.

King Ravine hasn’t seen the last of me.

Thank @Justo8484 for the advice on the handgun. 

[toast21602]

You’re making the most of this season and celebrating with solid beer. Bravo 👌

[Shadows]

Really though some of this sounds way dumb solo right?

[Nipples]

30 minutes ago, Shadows said:

Really though some of this sounds way dumb solo right?

Totally stupid though it’s my happy place.

[skiincy]

looks fun! I'm definitely down for some touring adventures in the spring. I've been reading this book and have been getting stoked to explore more. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934028142/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edited February 27, 2020 by skiincy
typo

[toast21602]

6 minutes ago, skiincy said:

looks fun! I'm definitely done for some touring adventures in the spring. I've been reading this book and have been getting stoked to explore more. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934028142/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I wish my spring wasn't so busy, but if people are going anywhere, post up here before!

[Justo8484]

14 hours ago, Shadows said:

Really though some of this sounds way dumb solo right?

Depends what you consider dumb. I haven't skied king, but if the climb up to the base of the actual ravine is anything like tucks, it's like skinning up something the equivalent pitch of lazy, maybe switchback at the steepest. It doesn't get hairy til you actually get up into the bowl. Smart call on knowing your limits and not skiing the actual ravine with the ice bulges and weather conditions. Looks like mandatory crampons and ice axe terrain, which at this point in my skiing career, i'm definitely not prepared for, and even if i was, would definitely not want to do solo.

If you're talking about the car camping part, it's not my idea of a great time when it's this cold out, but with the right gear you're probably fine. I only have a 10° bag so i'll save the camp-to-ski adventures til it's a little warmer out. 

@Nipples did you ever find that TGR thread?

Edited February 27, 2020 by Justo8484

[Nipples]

16 hours ago, Justo8484 said:

Depends what you consider dumb. I haven't skied king, but if the climb up to the base of the actual ravine is anything like tucks, it's like skinning up something the equivalent pitch of lazy, maybe switchback at the steepest. It doesn't get hairy til you actually get up into the bowl. Smart call on knowing your limits and not skiing the actual ravine with the ice bulges and weather conditions. Looks like mandatory crampons and ice axe terrain, which at this point in my skiing career, i'm definitely not prepared for, and even if i was, would definitely not want to do solo.

If you're talking about the car camping part, it's not my idea of a great time when it's this cold out, but with the right gear you're probably fine. I only have a 10° bag so i'll save the camp-to-ski adventures til it's a little warmer out. 

@Nipples did you ever find that TGR thread?

It’s not that I can’t afford a room. I actually sleep super well in my car and by myself it makes sense. Didn’t find that thread but couldn’t stop thinking about that story. Did find this story though.

https://m.facebook.com/notes/patrick-luk/falling-into-king-ravine-interview-excerpt/679140355493444

[Nipples]

Day 3

I woke to it snowing very heavy and after a 30 minutes search for my car key i was off to Wildcat ski area. With 100mph winds and 14 inches forecasted for Washington i knew i needed another option. Never been to wildcat before and it’s always been a back up plan for my tuxs trips. 
 

First few runs were good although i was absolutely clueless where the goods were at first but hey that’s the adventure of it. Conditions were great... wasn’t powder just sitting on ice like we normally get on the east. I’d say 8-10 inches in depth.

Eventually after following my nose i found some hidden gems in the trees that were completely untracked.

Sadly had to head home. Feels so wrong. I could spend a long long time wondering and exploring those mountains.

[theprogram4]

damn Nipples you are killing it

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Nipples even showed a nipple in this. 

[toast21602]

1 minute ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

Nipples even showed a nipple in this. 

Both, actually. So he can keep his name. 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Nice report Nipples!!

[Nipples]

30 minutes ago, toast21602 said:

Both, actually. So he can keep his name. 

Pretty normal contrary to popular belief.

[Nipples]

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

26 minutes ago, Nipples said:

 

@toast21602 check this out. 

[Nipples]

Pulling the trigger on a quick trip headed up tomorrow. Pic for stoke.

Edited March 6, 2020 by Nipples

[AtomicSkier]

@Nipples just watched that Mt Washington episode.  I’m interested...at least it’s not in Vermont.

[Nipples]

To shorten things up, It wasn’t the day i wanted but it was the day i needed.

Saw a marginal weather window with a great work window so pulled the trigger knowing it would be a gamble on conditions. Drove up yesterday taking my time making multiple stops in Massachusetts. 
 

Car camped at my now regular spot woke to howling winds, time change and how comfortable i got car camping down it was very easy to keep sleeping in a bit.

Headed right up the tuckerman trail. Pack weight was 35lbs. Clueless as to what I’m going to ski. Chilled at hojos awhile talked to some others passing through. Ran into my AVY1 instructor that was teaching another course. He gave me a little beta. Couldn’t decide between hillmans or going into the ravine at first. Choose to head into the ravine... I always forget how steep it is. 
 

Once there i knew i had 2 choices. Right gully or lobster claw. Never skied lobster claw before so went up. Did not summit the line completely as i knew winds would be whipping 70-90 mph there. Top half was pretty sketchy with boiler plate conditions but second half was actually great skiing. Definitely should have just transitioned at the rock cropping half way up. 
 

Decided not to ski right gully as there were multiple groups already climbing up. Have skied everything else I decided to give Huntington Ravine a go. Only time I’ve been to Huntington before was during my AVY1 course and it certainly felt like my first time there.

climbing up the south facing wall to the base of the cliff. Was slowly transitioning and enjoying the sun and one of my only breaks from the wind of the day. When the ravine erupted with that shreak of terror no one wants to hear.

Quickly turning i caught the tail end of a girl tumbling hundreds of feet out of central gully at very high speed and over rocks. Came to a stop at even elevation with me but on the other side of the ravine. Quickly realizing this could be very serious, threw my skis and gave it my all to get to her. Not knowing what I’d even do when i get there. Made quick time to her and mercilessly she was unhurt and laughing it off. 
 

Regardless that freaked me out but still couldn’t call it a day yet. Skied back down to tuxs trail and then back up that to hojos. Skied the cutler river down which had way more open water then planned.

Humbling as always.

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Nice report 

[Nipples]

4 minutes ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

Nice report 

Sorry for the long winded. Just figured I should.

[RidgeRacer]

Sorry for the long winded. Just figured I should.

No need to apologise. Was a great read. Glad the girl was ok.

[Johnny Law]

Siiiiiiick !

I'm super glad to see you got into King, that day we talked in the lot I remembered going home how cool that place is. 

There is a go around normally bushwacked through the scrub trees that bypasses the subway trail. It's thiccccc but saves some time by pretty much going around to the ravine floor. You can also run the ridge lookers left but thats even more of a goat path. 

The TGR thread was legand, that kid was dumb as rocks. IIRC he was also not eating when he took his glock to King. 

Burt is another straight up killer, Burt is even steeper than King and has a sort of weird fade to the lines that make them look super sketch standing up top. Burt is just left of the COG which is a fast easy skin. You can be in Airplane in like 2 1/2hrs. 

[indiggio]

Looks like they’re gonna get a clue and close Tuckerman’s because of all the idiots...

https://snowbrains.com/tuckerman-ravine-nh-will-likely-close-to-all-backcountry-access-tomorrow-due-to-overcrowding/

[GSSucks]

Balls  

https://mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/end-of-the-season-and-closures/?fbclid=IwAR3p9MCXEFsHBqHh8DOAAjJKRe0xQetTPHOl3iCOxjX1nq0GloVz_oTBLMc