January 13
West Porter-Neffs
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
5400-9800', angles approaching 40°, all aspects
Snow conditions
Damp snow at lower elevations warmed enough during the day to produce a few small rollers. By late afternoon it had crusted in the shade.
Up higher, a new rime crust was found on all aspects above about 7k.
A breeze from the northwest combined with moist air was also riming pine trees and branches in the wind.
Unusual for the Wasatch.
The crust, although noisy to ski through, was a thin zipper crust and did not deteriorate the ski conditions. Some thin wind crusts and drifts were also found scattered around. They were non reactive to ski cuts and cornice kicking produced only shallow surface sluffs.
Weather
Clear skies and moderate temperatures. Winds from the wnw, gusting to only about 15 mph.
Evaluation
Stable snow was found on all aspects and at all elevations. A snow pit at 9100' north facing in Neffs showed solid snow, with the late November rain crust buried five feet deep. Isolated potential for deep old snow slides may linger in unknown locations.
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