January 23

Bowman-Yellow Jacket-Pole canyon-Porter Fork

Elevations, slope angles and aspects

6200-9800', angles approaching 35°, north and west facing aspects.

Snow conditions

2" new snow at the trailhead increased to 6-8" with elevation gain. Settled storm total was around 20".

New snow was light density out of wind affected.

Up in the wind, natural activity was occurring about once an hour as the wind loaded lee aspects.

Cornices built and released the load when they were ready, with slides observed only within new snow layering

cornice-line

Weather

Overcast skies, moderate temperatures. Winds from the wnw, gusting over 30 mph.

Evaluation

The storm and wind rage on.

Instability would be...ask God or Mother Nature, your preference.

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January 23 journal

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