Self discipline will help keep you out of trouble today. Make conservative terrain choices and avoid steep, wind drifted slopes. Remember that buried weak layers may still be triggered from a distance, or from below. Avoid steep, alpine slopes and the runouts of large avalanche paths. Whumpfing collapses and shooting cracks are good reminders to keep it simple, keep it mellow.

Very dangerous avalanche conditions have developed. Avoid riding on or under upper elevation slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. New and drifted snow are creating slabs 1 to 2 feet thick that can be easily triggered by a rider or can release naturally. The storm snow is also overloading weak layers buried deeper in the snowpack, so avalanches can break well below Wednesday's snow surface, creating the potential for large, long-running avalanches. 

Very dangerous avalanche conditions have developed. Avoid riding on or under upper elevation slopes steeper than about 30 degrees. New and drifted snow are creating slabs 1 to 2 feet thick that can be easily triggered by a rider or can release naturally. The storm snow is also overloading weak layers buried deeper in the snowpack, so avalanches can break well below Wednesday's snow surface, creating the potential for large, long-running avalanches.

As new and wind-drifted snow accumulate today and tomorrow, the avalanche danger will rise. The danger will be two-fold: freshly-formed slabs that break at the old snow surface, and larger slides that break on deeply buried weak layers. Both dangers will be more widespread and more consequential at upper-elevations. Stick to slopes less than 30 degrees at mid-elevations to get good riding with less exposure to these dangers.

Increasing southwest winds may produce sensitive wind slabs on leeward slopes. If you see cornices developing or snow blowing off ridgelines, seek sheltered, low angle terrain. Riders continue to report large, whumpfing collapses from mid and upper elevation slopes. Those collapses are clear evidence that it remains possible to trigger large avalanches that break on buried persistent weak layers.

Increasing southwest winds may produce sensitive wind slabs on leeward slopes. If you see cornices developing or snow blowing off ridgelines, seek sheltered, low angle terrain. Riders continue to report large, whumpfing collapses from mid and upper elevation slopes. Those collapses are clear evidence that it remains possible to trigger large avalanches that break on buried persistent weak layers.

The possibility remains to trigger a LARGE and deadly avalanche today. Observations of large collapses and cracking snow from around our region yesterday demonstrate that we are not into the clear yet. The safest riding conditions will be found in lower angled slopes away from, and out from underneath, steep start zones. 

In the wake of Saturday night's storm, we observed numerous large natural avalanches and produced clear signs of instability, both of which highlight the dangerous conditions that developed over the weekend.  Although the avalanche danger is trending down now, we have uncertainty on how quickly the snowpack will adjust.  Give it time and bring a conservative mindset into the backcountry, especially to wind affected upper elevation terrain, because triggering a large slab avalanche is a very real possibility today.  

In the wake of Saturday night's storm, we observed numerous large natural avalanches and produced clear signs of instability, both of which highlight the dangerous conditions that developed over the weekend.  Although the avalanche danger is trending down now, we have uncertainty on how quickly the snowpack will adjust.  Give it time and bring a conservative mindset into the backcountry, especially to wind affected upper elevation terrain, because triggering a large slab avalanche is a very real possibility today.  

An observer yesterday reported a booming collapse that radiated across the entire slope so dramatically that he had to change his underwear.  To safely enjoy last night's foot of new snow without soiling your underwear - or worse - ride on slopes that are 30 degrees in steepness or less.  Today, you can easily trigger slabs that break 1 to 2 feet deep and propagate surprisingly wide distances or drag you into rocks, logs, and stumps.  Keep it conservative.  

An Avalanche Watch has been issued and the danger will increase into tomorrow.

Track new snowfall today and dial back your terrain choices as it gets deeper. Weak layers of surface hoar and faceted crusts are already buried under a foot of snow from previous storms. Storm slabs will become more sensitive this afternoon, especially in wind-drifted areas below ridgelines. Deeper instabilities lurk in the higher terrain. Downed logs and buried rocks will increase the consequences of triggering a slide.

An Avalanche Watch has been issued and the danger will increase into tomorrow.

Track new snowfall today and dial back your terrain choices as it gets deeper. Weak layers of surface hoar and faceted crusts are already buried under a foot of snow. These slabs will become more sensitive by this afternoon, especially in wind-drifted areas below ridgelines. Terrain traps like downed logs and buried rocks will increase the consequences of triggering a slide.

Avoid steep slopes with fresh deposits of drifted snow, where you can trigger shallow slabs that can have large consequences. Be wary of large, open slopes with well-developed snowpacks, particularly close to the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park. On these slopes, the primary danger is triggering large slabs that break on old snow near the ground or a rain crust formed in mid November. 

As winds increase from the east Tuesday evening, pockets of hard wind slab will form on exposed ridgelines and cross loaded slopes. The best riding will be found in sheltered terrain. Remember, a small ride early season can cause significant trauma as it pushes you through trees, rocks, and stumps.