Tuckerman's Ravine

OK, so my buddy Ry has already posted some photos on FB, and I'll post some soon as well. Here's the Narrative:

Ry spent the night at our place in Somerville so that we could go for an 'Alpine Start:' Except that we slept in, and stopped for gas, coffee, etc.

Arrived at Tuckerman's around 11, just as the Inferno race was finishing up (for future reference: don't plan a trip to Tuck's on Inferno weekend, although it was cool to see).

We hiked up with our gear, which wasn't too bad except that the top was typical for Mt. Washington: Total Whiteout (no wind and very light precipitation, comfortable temps... so not actually too bad).

When we got up to the ravine, we decided to just walk around for a little while since visibility was so bad. We ditched our gear and headed up the hill. I had always wanted to ski the "ravine" but it looked like it wasn't going to be safe. At the last moment, I decided I was at least going to try a few turns. I went back for my gear, put it on my back and turned around to head up the hill. Literally as I turned my head, the fog lifted. Game time!

I hiked up past the lunch rocks, and began to ascend the boot-pack on the 'Lip' (right next to the 'Sluice'... descriptions here: http://www.timefortuckerman.com/routes.html)

As I'm hiking up, EVERYONE is wiping out on their way down. About 3/4 of the way up, climbing started to get difficult. I realized that even though I could climb up, skiing down on teles (even if I just P-turned), would be dicey. Instead, I holed up in a crevasse just below the rocks between the Lip and the Sluice. I stashed my gear in the crevasse, only to find out later that I had very nearly lost it into it. Beginner's mistake, thank god it was OK.

Finally, the crowd started to clear out, so I started to gear up. Anyone who's skiied with me knows I have enough problems with Tele Bindings as it is (ask Chris B. about Lake Chutes), and this time was no exception. Nevertheless, I got 'clipped in.'

My turn to go, I traverse out into the slope below the actual Headwall, make my first term, and realize "Oh $H!T, I didn't put my left binding on correctly!!!!" Half way into the turn, my ski comes off, and I start to fall.

If you've ever seen "Better Off Dead" when John Cusak skis the K12 with 1 ski, you get the idea.

By the grace of god, I keep an edge, stop, fix my binding. However, I'm so shaken up by the ordeal, that I can only muster the energy to ski down like a total wuss (P-turns on Teles in bulletproof hardpack are pretty hard).

Made it down to Casey and Ry, then we skiied the Sherborn trail as far as we could, before we had to walk our skis down.

Spent the night in the Joe Dodge Lodge, Casey and I on the bottom bunk, Ry on the top. Watched a movie about the history of American Skiing.

Woke up the next day, had breakfast with the Inferno winner (Ski Leg... total coincidence), then went climbing over on 'Square Ledge' (across the valley from Tuck's, about a 15 minute walk). Did a few ascents, then drove home by way of Moat Mountain Smokehouse & Brewery.

Home by 7. I could barely walk after... phew! Exhausting!