Item: The Importance of Micro-Scale Avalanche Forecasting in Mount Washington's Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines
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Title: The Importance of Micro-Scale Avalanche Forecasting in Mount Washington's Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines
Proceedings: Proceedings Whistler 2008 International Snow Science Workshop September 21-27, 2008
Authors:
- Christopher Joosen [ US Forest Service, White Mountain National Forest ]
Date: 2008-09-25
Abstract: For over fifty years U.S. Forest Service Snow Rangers have patrolled Mount Washington and issued avalanche advisories. The focus of these activities has occurred in Tuckerman Ravine, a popular East Coast steep skiing destination and Huntington Ravine, renowned for alpine ice climbing. These two alpine cirques are within a day's drive of 75-80 million people wanting to cut their teeth in the East's most significant avalanche terrain. The Mount Washington Avalanche Center is tasked with educating these users through forecasting for avalanches, icefall, crevasse problems and communicating these in an advisory. Upwards of 4000 people can be expected to make the 7 mile round trip pilgrimage on a sunny spring Saturday. High visitation in this concentrated use environment paired with Mount Washington's spatial variability has made micro-forecasting critical for successfully conveying stability issues to the public. Avalanche forecasting occurs on a micro-scale through the issuance of ratings for 16 independent areas. Stability may vary by one to three ratings within this relatively small area due to the intense spatial variability caused by Mount Washington's extreme wind, high tensile strength hard slab, and the associated bridging over weak layers. Winds between 160 and 225 kph occur on a regular basis through the winter and provide the dominant forecasting variable. This micro-scale focus gives more detailed point specific information to visitors so they may better mitigate risk in a heavy use environment.
Object ID: P__8176.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Mr. Christopher Joosen.
Keywords: micro-scale, avalanche, forecasting, mount washington, tuckerman, huntington
Page Number(s): 250
Subjects: forecasting
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