December 20
Porter Fork
Elevations, slope angles and aspects:
6000'-9500'. angles approaching 35°, southeast, north and northeast.
Avalanche activity:
One natural avalanche in new snow layering observed on Raymond, just west of the glade, running into a chute
and releasing another new snow slide on exit into the apron. Widespread rollers and shallow loose snow slides in new snow, below 8000' on all aspects, caused by day time heating. Localized collapsing in wind drifted areas above 9000' on both south and north facing. A layer of light density-facet bwlow new snow, the likely cause.
No other activity.
Slopes skied:
Southeast facing into main Porter from west Porter saddle and west Porter from the saddle continuing down and out to the road.
Snow conditions:
4" new snow from the latest storm at 6000',12-14" storm total above 9000'. Density changes within the upper layer of new snow continue hampering travel, although some settle ment from yesterday was noted. Winds today were stiffening the most recent surface continuing the inverted theme. There was some cracking in that drifting along with localized collapsing.
Weather:
Mild temperatures and snow flurries, with partial clearing mid day. Winds increased with elevation mostly above 9000' and gusting into the 20 mph range. Increased wind was observed along upper elevation ridges.
Snow pit:
Evaluation:
Cracking, collapsing and natural activity observed, with the latest round of wind and snow indicate increasing instability. While most activity observed was in storm snow and the interface with the old surface, forecast water amounts combined with continued wind will probably overload old buried weak faceted layers. Would expect significant natural activity and touchy conditions on all aspects.Slab formation from dense snow and wind promotes larger wider slides, if triggered.
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