April 20
Porter Fork
Elevation, slope angles and aspects
6200-10200', angles over 35°, all aspects
Snow conditions
Spring snow, frozen in the morning, softened with warming. The refreeze at upper elevations was 2-3" thick. Somewhat less at mid elevations and marginal below 7k. It softened in a timely manner with a run down north facing after 2 pm.
Interested in glide, and a late start after 8 am so...
Raymond slabs have some movement, two pockets releasing, the rest waiting for warmer temps.
Most wet activity was rollers seen on southeast facing
and north facing from the weekend warm up.
Glide in Broads. Several small releases, blue ice, diving board
and south of Bonkers.
Slumps and buckling suggest some larger releases may be in the offing, with further warming.
Weather
Clear and sunny, light wind and mild temperatures.
Evaluation
Stable spring snow conditions. Good settlement from slow warming. Mid and lower elevations are consolidated and supportable. Upper elevations continue progression. No wet activity was observed during the day.
Weather guess of increasing temperatures and cloudy skies by late Wednesday-Thursday will not allow radiation cooling. Higher humidity and heat near the snow surface could produce increasing instability and promote glide, prior to weekend cooling.
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