March 13
Porter Fork
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6100-9750', angles over 35°, north facing aspects.
Snow conditions
A skiff of new snow at the trail head most of which was absorbed into the wet old road surface.
Patches of ice on the Porter fork road from a good refreeze.
Recent snow increased with elevation to about 6" above 8500'.
South facing slopes were slow to soften with cool temperatures.
Wind damage from easterly post frontal wind was observed in exposed terrain.
Localized areas of graupel pooling on lower angled slopes below rock bands and steep starting zones.
North facing sheltered and shady retained dry snow into the afternoon, other aspects, damp after warming.
Weather
Clear skies, light wind, cool temperatures in the am, warming to mild during the day.
Avalanche activity
Point release sluffing on sun exposed with warming.
A recent slide observed in the Bonkers area of Broads fork.
It is at least a day or so old and ran to the flats.
There is also a small recent glide slide under the north edge of Blue Ice area.
Surface sluff in Silver Bell dog leg.
Released on descent, beginning as a point release and spreading as it turned the corner.
Slow mover, watched it run from the bottom .
Evaluation
Good stability in the area traveled.
Isolated wind drifts and possible wet activity with warming.
Weather guessers have a coupla storms suggested into early next week so... potential for spring corn limited
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