Braving Tuckerman Ravine Trail

Looking at an optimistic general weather report last weekend, a friend and I planned to hike up to Tuckerman Ravine on Tuesday. But as frequently happens, the weather that day in the valley was mild and mostly clear, and the weather on Mount Washington was not. That morning on the summit, there was 50-foot visibility and 50 to 60 mph winds, increasing in the afternoon as a front approached.

However, at Pinkham Notch it was sunny that morning when I called. We said what the heck, we might as well go and see. We would be in the protective trees on the lower Tuckerman Ravine Trail, and if we only got to Hermit Lake in 2.4 miles that was OK. My friend had some winter hiking experience, yet was new to Mount Washington in the winter.