Christmas Eve Avalanche Rattles Northeast's Tallest Peak

After the avalanche stopped, a team examined the slide path to determine if it was human-caused, according to the MWAC. They found no signs of human activity or avalanche beacon signals.

An avalanche observation shared by Jeff Fongemie, Director of MWAC, noted that the slide had “soft slab” characteristics. Fongemie also wrote that it was unclear if the avalanche only involved overnight snowfall or if it also included additional snow from the preceding days. The debris field of the avalanche ranged in depth between 150 to 170 centimeters.

MWAC hasn’t yet begun posting daily, five-scale avalanche forecasts. Instead, the avalanche center is sharing multi-day avalanche bulletins that are updated on Mondays and Fridays. MWAC is actively assessing conditions to determine when it’ll begin publishing daily five-scale forecasts.

The current MWAC avalanche bulletin is effective until this afternoon. It warns of large, unstable wind slabs on eastern-facing terrain like Tuckerman Ravine, Huntington Ravine, Gulf of Slides, and Great Gulf. MWAC advised backcountry skiers to watch for plumes of blowing snow near ridgelines, cracks in the snow, and areas of stiff snow that sound hollow—these natural phenomena can indicate elevated avalanche danger.

You can check the latest avalanche bulletin from MWAC by clicking here.

Tuckerman Ravine is a popular Northeast backcountry skiing area. During the springtime, in particular, the Ravine takes on a mecca-like status, drawing crowds of skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts.

“Tucks is where skiing legends have been made, broken, and made up. It’s a proving ground or a playground, depending on your abilities,” David Goodman, author of Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast: 50 Classic Ski & Snowboard Tours in New England and New York, told the New England Ski Journal.

As with any epic backcountry zone, the know-before-you-go caveat applies. Mother Nature issued an important reminder on Hillman’s Highway on Christmas Eve—the natural elements don’t care how rad of a skier you are. Avalanche forecasts, avalanche gear, and a good ski buddy are the keys to making it home in one piece.

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