The Sluice

The Sluice is a classic ski line in Tuckerman Ravine on the southeast face of Mount Washington above Pinkham Notch. It sits looker’s right in the main bowl, directly below the Lip, and is commonly entered from the floor of the ravine near Lunch Rocks or via a drop-in from Right Gully, which feeds into the run partway down.

From the floor of the ravine, skin or bootpack toward Lunch Rocks, then trend left of the rocks and follow the obvious fall line up toward the broad face below the Lip. A fork in the bootpack above Lunch Rocks separates the Sluice (left branch) from steeper lines to the right; stay on the left track to gain the top of the panel before transitioning for the descent.

The Sluice is prime avalanche terrain and one of the more active slide paths in the bowl, with frequent wind loading from prevailing westerlies and a pronounced start zone under the headwall. Icefall and rockfall from the headwall and the Lip can reach the line, and the run funnels into a defined gully with terrain-trap characteristics above the runout near Lunch Rocks. Travel here should be based on current Mount Washington Avalanche Center forecasts and in a competent, self-reliant group.

Best use is in a stable spring snowpack when the Mount Washington Avalanche Center has transitioned to a spring hazard format and overnight freezes are followed by rapid warming; avoid the line during active loading events, thaw-freeze crust over weak snow, or when the forecast highlights the Lip and Sluice start zones. Expect firm, consequential conditions early and fast, sluffy corn later in the day, with long sliding fall potential throughout the season.

For current avalanche and closure information, see the Mount Washington Avalanche Center: mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org.