January 8
Porter Fork, Raymond Glade, "Paradice", Porter Fork
Elevations, slope angles and aspects
6200-9700', angles over 35°, north facing aspects.
Snow conditions
There was a skiff of fresh snow at the trail head over a well frozen base.
Snow amounts increased to 3" at upper elevations. Old surface went from frozen to a stout rain crust to creamy(I was making snowballs in old snow at 9500').
Isolated collapsing in shallow snow patches.
Ski cutting starting zones would initiate surface sluffing.
New snow was resting on a spongy(rain crusted) old surface. Sluffs remained within new snow, leaving a shallow debris pile.
Weather
Partly cloudy to overcast skies, mild temperatures. Wind was from the north, only along the ridge, gusting to around 15 mph at 9700', decreasing.
Snow pit
Homogenous, layering was blending together. No shears, lacking a temperature gradient.
Evaluation
Mostly stable snow in the area with surface sluffing the instability.
Wet activity possible with suggested warming.
Future instability would be from wind drifting or rapid rise in temperature.
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