Heads up, tricky and dangerous avalanche conditions are developing! The avalanche danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE today on steep slopes that have recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Newly formed wind slabs will rapidly develop on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features, primarily on slopes that face the north half of the compass. Additionally, older, hard wind slabs formed on slopes facing W-S-SE, earlier in the week. Avoid slopes with a smooth rounded appearance or that show signs of instability such as cracking in the snow surface. The danger also exists for avalanches to step down 2'-4' deep into buried, persistent weak layers of loose, sugary, faceted snow. Wind loaded, northerly facing slopes with steep, rocky, and more radical terrain are the most suspect for this type of avalanche. Backcountry travelers today need to possess good route finding and snow stability analysis skills.