Their feats are the stuff of lore. Thousands of spring skiers, snowboarders and onlookers visit Tuckerman Ravine. Sometimes the lore is more horror than bravado. Broken bones, gaping wounds and occasional deaths are all a part of the Tukerman Ravine experience. The terrain is classified as expert only, and with no ski lifts, access is human power that sometimes requires an ice axe and crampons.
Timing is essential when skiing in the spring.
To reach the ravine, skiers walk up a 2.4-mile footpath. The hike to the top of the cirque can take another three hours. Heavy traffic and its impact on the area's vegetation have resulted in limited camping options. Those who plan to stay must do so at one of the lean-tos operated by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Like backcountry skiing in the big mountains of the West, timing is essential.