Tuckerman
Ravine Mt Washington, NEI 1- 4
Tuckerman Ravine offers many possibilities for easy and moderate snow climbs throughout the season. Also, early in the season before the ravine fills with snow, it's one of the first places where it is possible to do some ice climbing. There are climbing possibilities throughout the ravine, just pick a line that looks good and wander left or right to find or to avoid difficulties. While it's possible to climb almost anywhere, some particularly good spots are just above and to the left of the start to Hillmans Highway, to the left of Left Gully, and above and to the right of the summer trail on the Headwall. There's also a lot of ice more or less in the center of the headwall. The climbs in the center of the headwall can be 400 to 500 feet in length.
Approach- Follow the Tuckerman Ravine trail up into the base of the ravine. The approach should take no more than two hours. It's a very straightforward hike and doesn't involve any of the usual, early season, snow covered, rock hopping and hole avoiding that you run into on other early season approaches into Huntington Ravine or on the way to the Black Dike.
Descent- If climbing anywhere around the headwall, follow the summer trail back down. It's located towards the right hand side (as seen from the bottom) of the headwall. There can be substantial avalanche hazard on this trail once the rocks all fill in with snow. There's an especially hazardous section right at the top of the ravine where you traverse right and gain access to the trail.
Early Season Ice
in Tucks
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