Perfect Weather, Snow, and Parking It all adds up to a classic Tuck’s weekend. It was a good night to blow out of Ste-Anne's. I was losing in poker and the Habs had just gone down to Boston 5-1 in game 5.  Not much would have stopped us anyway, because Terry and I had been talking about Tucks for weeks. Sonnel, an experienced hiker, had previously trekked all around Mount Washington, including a four day hike that got him to the peak of the northeast’s highest mountain.

But he had never been into Tuckerman’s Ravine. Tuckerman is an almost perfect semicircular glacial cirque that hangs off the mountain’s eastern side and fills with prodigious amounts of snow every winter. It’s the kind of place that has something to offer for everyone: Skiers; hikers; nature enthusiasts, and those who just like to kick back and enjoy the sun and people.

Yeah we blew outta town and next morning with a brilliant bluebird day ahead of us, we did what all keen athletes do in the morning. We chowed down on a huge breakfast at a place called Moose Look restaurant.

Sure enough they were talking moose at the café, but they should have been talking turkey as we were treated to the sight of dozens of wild turkeys feeding in the fields beside Route 2. The turkeys and the breakfast delayed us enough so that we arrived and found the Pinkham Notch parking lot overflowing, but miraculously, we managed to find the best parking lot in the place.

This could only mean one thing…it was going to be a great day. It was. The walk up to HoJos passed quickly and at the Ranger session Sonnel got his first peek of the snow cloaked feature known as “The Bowl”. We climbed to the lunch rocks, an area to one side from where you can see all goings on. It was craziness in the bowl. A couple of skiers straight lined the headline, jumping right over the cliffs. The crowd went wild. One poor soul attempted to come down in a plastic sled (he crashed), but the biggest cheers were reserved for three skiers who came down buck naked  (Stone was heard to boo and yell, “where are your girlfriends?” Alas there were none.)

It was the perfect Tucks day: Nice soft corn, and the trail open all the way to the cars. We ate well that night enjoyed a beautiful evening around the fire and after checking out the crowds heading up the next Saturday morning, pointed our car towards home. I was tired and sore, but happy to have enjoyed a classic Tucks weekend with a good and cherished friend.

See video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7KWOBQFVy4