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...

main-porter

Raymond slabs have some movement, two pockets releasing, the rest waiting for warmer temps.

piece-o-pie

Most wet activity was rollers seen on southeast facing

raymond

and north facing from the weekend warm up.

mineral

Glide in Broads. Several small releases, blue ice, diving board

diving-board

and south of Bonkers.

bonkers

Slumps and buckling suggest some larger releases may be in the offing, with further warming.

broads-twenty

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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April 20 journal

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