December 17
Upper Porter, Silver Bell, Porter Fork
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6100-9800', angles over 40°, north facing aspects.
Snow conditions
An inch or two of recent snow at the trail head over dirt, rocks, brush or road base.
Traffic had previously packed the road to ice so...skinable on the up, skiable on the down with caution advised.
An actual snow pack begins appearing at around 8k, more so above 8500'.
3-5" recent snow at the highest elevation, total snow, 12" to an optimistic 20".
Surprisingly, it is supportable on skis, not so much if booting.
Weather
Overcast skies, moderate temperatures with light wind.
Snow pit
Nope
Evaluation
Shallow, thin but stable snow pack.
Sluffing of surface snow on steeper hills.
Enterained only the new snow, running on a eggshell rime-mf crust.
Future instability would be from significant new snow which is currently being suggested for late in the week by the weather guessers.
Fingers crossed!
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