December 19

Porter fork to Raymond shoulder and return

Elevations, slope angles and aspects

6200-9800', angles over 35°, north and east facing aspects

pallindrome

Snow conditions

I found 6" or so at the trailhead with amount increasing to over a foot of recent snow at upper elevations.

Three collapses were felt in shallow east facing pockets on the ascent, elevation was 8500-9000'

Collapsing was on small facets above the rain crust which was at the ground.

No collapsing above 9000'.

knob

Weather

Cool temperatures all day, inverted with coldest temps at lower elevations.

No wind.

Snow pit

raymondglade

Evaluation

Observed instability was new snow sluffing

sluffing

near the end of the storm.

slabs

Ski cutting initiated several additional slow moving sluffs

paradice

Future instability would be from wind, more snow and or sun warming.

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