My first ever June turns were had at Tuckerman Ravine. The big news in the Ravine today was a car sized rock falling off the headwall and nearly decapitating a skier. I was just clicking into my skis in Left Gully when a commotion of yelling and screaming could be heard from the Ravine proper. I could not see the action due to the gully, but when I reached Lunch Rocks, I was told that a car sized rock fell off the headwall and split into two pieces. The two pieces tracked in various directions with one hunk gunning for a person climbing up Chute. The rock looked to be heading straight down at first, but then started turning towards the bottom of the chute. word was the guy jumped at the last second and saved his life by two feet! The ravine cleared out pretty fast after that humbling experience was witnessed by most of the people up there.
The heat today was oppressive. The hike up to the bowl was easy enough. But once in the bowl, the sun came out and started baking everyone and everything. Even with minimal acceptable clothing for skiing the ravine for my standards, I was over heating. Having decided a warm up on the bottom part of Chute was in order first, I booted up below Lunch Rocks and began my ascent. While hiking up, a “river of snow” started sliding down the bowl next to me. How weird, cool, and concerning all at the same time! I only hiked up to the chock of the Chute as I wanted to conserve my energy for the hike up Left Gully. I clicked in and began making turns on the ridiculously wet snow. Making turns and stopping became a minor issue because the ski edges were cutting and sliding rather than digging in. It was okay skiing but left something to be desired.
Left Gully was the real goal for the day, so I made my way over there next. This is when the sun came out and really cranked up the heat past tolerable levels. I was starting to experience some over heating warning signs just below the hour glass: headache, head pounding, short on breath, unreasonable and excessive fatigue, etc. I was over heating pretty bad and was not feeling the climb. I decided to play it safe and click in just below the hour glass rather than risk continued climbing and losing control. Turns were simply epic, incredible snow in left gully. A few small bumps which were fun but nothing I would call moguls though.
The hike out was simply horrible with the sun continuing to crank up the temperature with no wind or clouds to help assist. It was definitely a day that was too hot for skiing despite the epic turns had in Left Gully. I think that will be my last shot at the Ravine, though it will certainly be skiable for a lot longer. The amount of snow still in the Ravine is ridiculous thanks to a cold and cloudy May.
