February 23
West Porter, Neffs
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
5600-9870', angles over 35°, north, east and west facing aspects.
Snow conditions
1"-5" recent snow, mostly graupel, over a crusted base.
Lower elevations have no recent snow with a firm crusted base.
Mild temperatures melted the crust with puddling in the afternoon on the Neffs trail.
Soft snow at upper elevations is aspect dependent.
Exposed windward terrain has been scoured to crust and or dirt.
Lee aspects and sheltered terrain retain settled powder with amounts decreasing to about 8500'.
Weather
Clear skies with mild temperatures and little wind.
Avalanche activity
One cornice fall remotely released by walking the ridge. Bigger than a Suburban, smaller than a box car.
No result suggesting much improved stability.
Several slide cycles evident in Broads Fork with the largest, most recent
in the Blue Ice-Diving Board area.
Most likely the result of the continued west wind following the last storm.
Small rollers and shallow, point release surface sluffs were observed in the afternoon, resulting from day time heating.
Evaluation
Good stability in the area traveled.
Large cornices on leeward aspect ridges are a bit sensitive.
Isolated potential in upper elevation wind drifted terrain.
Wet activity with warming.
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