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Every year for the past 12 years, I have made an effort
to make a pilgrimage into Tuckerman’s Ravine. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the place, Tuckerman's Ravine
(this is one of the best links around)is a naturally formed half bowl carved into the face of Mount Washington, located in
the White Mountains.
Every year snow packs into the bowl in such a way as to make it one of the last skiable places
in the north eastern United States. That being said, it must be noted that every year is different in the bowl, and every
day unique. Weather conditions rule and how much snow packs into the bowl, in conjunction with how many hot days we have in
the spring, determine the actual ski conditions.
Here is the hitch - you can't drive there, you can't take a bus there,
and a helicopter is not allowed to drop you there. You have to hike in. The hike itself is a determining factor in whether
or not you should ski there. It is a backcountry adventure that should not be taken lightly, and one for which you need to
be prepared.
Every year literally thousands of people hike in to Tuckerman’s Ravine. Most people hike in a pair of
skis, some people just come to watch, and I myself pack a Selmer Mach VI alto saxophone with which I attempt to augment the
Tuckerman’s experience of the day. There are not many spring days that lend themselves well to saxophone playing. However
on the days that do, I man my perch about 3/4 of the way up the lunch rocks on the right hand side of the bowl and try to
provide a musical narration of the events of the day.
So if it is a beautiful spring weekend day, and you are inclined
to make the trek, you just may find me on my perch, enjoying the peace, the tranquility, and the awesome grandeur of a beautiful
Tuckerman’s day.
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I usually start my day-long serenade with the National
Anthem, followed by Tequila. I then proceed to play "The ants go marching one by one", aka "When Johnny comes marching home
again", in an attempt to help the weary place one foot in front of the other. I like patriotic tunes, show tunes, bluesy tunes,
television tunes, Charlie Parker tunes, and just about anything with a melody. Some of my Tuckerman’s favorites would include,
but not be limited to: “America the Beautiful”, “Climb Every Mountain”, “The Hills are Alive With the Sound of Music”, “Sunrise
Sunset”, “The Swinging Shepard Blues”, “Sesame Street”, “The Pink Panther”, “Straight no Chaser”, “Now is The Time”, “Symphony
Sid”, and the list goes on as far as my imagination and cranial musical library will allow.
The shape of the natural
bowl, and my placement in it, provide an amphitheater second to none, and it is one of the most exhilarating places to play
the saxophone in the world.
It is not an easy place to get to, and as the skiing is dearly earned, so is the music.
Over the years I have met many people on my Tuckerman's journeys. About 7 or 8 years ago, I saw a 24-year-old woman get killed
by a piece of falling ice that broke off the headwall. It was as big as half a bus. It broke into many pieces on the way
down, with the piece that got her about the size of a refrigerator. I mention this not to be morbid, but to warn the less-experienced
that ice does break off, and the term “be ice smart” is very real. After this sobering experience, I played Amazing Grace
and several other tunes that I thought appropriate. That day as I headed down I met a young man who stopped me and asked "are
you the Saxman?" I told him, "yes" and he proceeded to tell me how on the way up he had heard what happened and was going
to turn back, but continued on into the bowl. He told me the music moved him and he was glad he did not turn back.
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I have had a very positive response over the years,
with one of the best accolades coming from an unknown sojourner who commented to me, "It just fit". I try and narrate the
events of the day as they unfold. It is with humble adoration that I sit in the crook of God's elbow, enjoying the sound of
a saxophone - my saxophone - reverberate out over the hillside, as I enjoy the Tuckerman's experience - my Tuckerman's experience
- year after year.
This year with the rollout of Fred's Franks, it was not possible for me to make it into the bowl.
Next year if I can I will, but if I don't, God willing I will be back the following year to experience the thrill of a lifetime
- a good day at Tuckerman’s Ravine.
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