2" of rain predicted in the whites on Friday

[peakbagger]

No doubt rivers and streams will be cranked up into the weekend. Definitely worth checking the gauges before heading out.

My guess is the southern slopes will get it worst as there was more snowpack from the recent snowstorm. There is a distinct cool down after the storm so expect trails will be icy.

 

[SpencerVT]

I've been reading about this too. Seems like the rain is coming to the entire Northeast. Temperatures in the 50s. Will be a slushy mess, especially with the places that got 40" of snow. The ice afterwards when the temperatures drop is going to probably be massive.
I am going out today before this messes up the conditions.

 

[peakbagger]

A short excerpt from the Obs on predicted winds

Gusts at this time look to be tapping into the 160s and 170s and some models are indicating that as a low-level jet passes, a few gusts could surpass 180 mph.

My guess there will be lots of blowdown on the trails this weekend.

 

[JustJoe]

With all the rain predicted going into a deep freeze, it's going to be boiler plate up there. I hope people realize steep descents on boiler plate is when full crampons are needed. Spikes just don't cut it in those conditions. IMO I think it was 2016 when we got a lot of rain and most of the 4K trails were solid ice. I was descending, Crawford Path mind you, and everyone wearing spikes were hanging on to trees and moving at a snails pace. I was wearing crampons and was going at a fairly normal pace. Most say you rarely need crampons. But when you do, they make a huge difference.

 

[SpencerVT]

I wonder how the Catskills are going to do out of this - they got some of the most snow out of this last storm. There are now flood watches for the CATs and I imagine there's going to be massive runoff from all the snowmelt and high temperatures tomorrow.

 

[peakbagger]

With all the rain predicted going into a deep freeze, it's going to be boiler plate up there. I hope people realize steep descents on boiler plate is when full crampons are needed. Spikes just don't cut it in those conditions. IMO I think it was 2016 when we got a lot of rain and most of the 4K trails were solid ice. I was descending, Crawford Path mind you, and everyone wearing spikes were hanging on to trees and moving at a snails pace. I was wearing crampons and was going at a fairly normal pace. Most say you rarely need crampons. But when you do, they make a huge difference.

Funny you mention that, I think I was doing Kearsage North one day and the upper section was solid ice and boilerplate, I was comfortably going up with my crampons but the woods on either side of the trail were full of folks with and without spikes hanging from every tree trying to make their way up. My Hillsounds wouldnt even work

 

[jfb]

With all the rain predicted going into a deep freeze, it's going to be boiler plate up there. I hope people realize steep descents on boiler plate is when full crampons are needed.

It's also challenging to stop on boiler plate after a fall, unless you hit a tree.

 

[Hillwalker]

It's also challenging to stop on boiler plate after a fall, unless you hit a tree.

Good old "tree arrest". Made a few of those coming down Falling Waters Trail from Haystack on a Swiss Bob sometime in the 80s. Gosh I miss those days.

 

[peakbagger]

A few river gauges with impressive spikes in elevation

The Peabody River in NH, (Drainage along RT16 north of Pinkham)
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uv/?site_no=01054114&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,63158,00060

Saco River Bartlett (Crawford Notch south along RT 302
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uv/?site_no=010642505&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,63158,00060

Wild River Gilead (Evans Notch north)
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/me/nwis/uv?site_no=01054200

and of course East Branch gauge
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uv?site_no=01074520

My guess is the Saco River gauge will be the most interesting to watch as the storm is tracking a bit to the east of the Mt Washington summit.

 

[DayTrip]

A few river gauges with impressive spikes in elevation

The Peabody River in NH, (Drainage along RT16 north of Pinkham)
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uv/?site_no=01054114&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,63158,00060

Saco River Bartlett (Crawford Notch south along RT 302
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uv/?site_no=010642505&PARAmeter_cd=00065,63160,63158,00060

Wild River Gilead (Evans Notch north)
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/me/nwis/uv?site_no=01054200

and of course East Branch gauge
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/nwis/uv?site_no=01074520

My guess is the Saco River gauge will be the most interesting to watch as the storm is tracking a bit to the east of the Mt Washington summit.

Wow. Those are some impressive spikes. I was kinda shocked to get up this morning and find all of the snow in my neighborhood gone except a few patches (which are now gone). We got about a foot in that storm with a few dustings after. I figured we'd take a hit but I didn't think it would be 100% gone. I wonder how much of the snowpack in the Whites is currently heading for the ocean....

Looks like the Obs didn't take it on the chin quite as bad as they forecast with 1.03 inches of rain and a peak gust of only 109 mph. Still show 11 inches of ground cover on the F6 through yesterday but I expect that has changed dramatically since midnight.

 

[skiguy]

Wow. Those are some impressive spikes. I was kinda shocked to get up this morning and find all of the snow in my neighborhood gone except a few patches (which are now gone). We got about a foot in that storm with a few dustings after. I figured we'd take a hit but I didn't think it would be 100% gone. I wonder how much of the snowpack in the Whites is currently heading for the ocean....

Looks like the Obs didn't take it on the chin quite as bad as they forecast with 1.03 inches of rain and a peak gust of only 109 mph. Still show 11 inches of ground cover on the F6 through yesterday but I expect that has changed dramatically since midnight.

The temperatures have also been very erosive. Great day for a Submarine Race. Sharpen up your Crampons.

 

[DayTrip]

The temperatures have also been very erosive. Great day for a Submarine Race. Sharpen up your Crampons.

I just bought kayaks last weekend (finally) and I have to say I feel more like putting the rack back on the car and hitting the local pond versus heading North for a hike right now.

 

[Andrew]

Sharpen your chainsaw and ax also, or more like be ready to climb around a lot of wind-throws.

Since it went above freezing on the 24th I took the opportunity to cut and dig a bunch of logs out of the snow to open a new trail my family had been waiting for. The Christmas day reveal of the new trail gift turned into a problem as we couldn't make it easily through all the blowdowns on our existing trails to make it to the new trail.

 

[peakbagger]

Looking out the front window up at Madison through the clouds this AM, its looks like the best description of the snowpack is "Nopack".

The clouds are lifting and I can just see the top of Madison, Far more rock visible than snow. Just patches in the normal low spots. Looks like spring conditions.