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USFS Avalanche Bulletin 9:53 p.m. Friday November 20, 2009 Before you think the Snow Rangers have all retired and closed up shop we figured we should probably write to you even though there's nothing really to talk about. Every year I find myself thinking "we've never seen this before" about some weather phenom or mountain condition and this year is no exception. All this before the winter has even started and that's just the problem, winter just isn't starting. Near the beginning of November we picked up between 4 and 5 inches of snow, but it quickly succumbed to many days of clear skies and above average temperatures. As of today, Friday November 20th, the mountain is completely brown, completely, not a minor snowfield to be found. I say all this so I can eat my words once some winter storms slap the mountains which are bound to come eventually. For those of you who were considering ice climbing over the Thanksgiving week you will likely find more ice in your freezer than on the mountain so be patient and wait a while. As some cold nights start to form some frozen water and turf remember the rock takes a while to truly cool down and loose all the heat it's been absorbing. Due to this expect the early ice to be a bit detached with poor adhesion. Also expect falling ice to occur with any mid day warm ups or rain. This is a very common occurrence each fall before the ice becomes better bonded with longer periods of cold air. As you start thinking about winter adventures, don't forget to put in some new high quality batteries in your avalanche beacon so it is ready to go. When was the last time you actually practiced with it anyway? It is probably a good time to do that. Don't just close your eyes while your dog moves it to another part of the room. Challenge yourself. Hide several beacons so you learn how your beacon will react to a difficult scenario. Do it with headphones on blasting loud music to distract you. Try it in the dark with dying batteries in your headlamp. Cover up the screen so you can't see what it is telling you. Get creative so you don't choke if you ever need to actually use it. You should also check your probe and make sure it is in good working order along with your shovel. It is also a good time of year to sign up for an avalanche course before they fill up. We posted all of the avalanche courses offered around the Mt. Washington Valley this winter on our website under the "Avalanche Safety" tab. If you fell behind in your preseason avalanche reading consider this late start a chance to get caught up. Brush out those summer cobwebs and get ready because winter has to be just around the corner. We'll be watching closely and keep you updated to any changes. We are looking forward to another season on the mountain. Remember that we are there for you so don't hesitate to find us and ask questions. You'll be hearing more from us once the snow begins to pile up. Brian, Justin, Jeff and Chris.
Christopher Joosen, Snow Ranger
U.S. Avalanche Danger Scale
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