Wind drifted snow continues to be our primary concern. Strong southerly winds have blown for more than a week drifting snow on to slopes facing NW-N-SE, and we now have new wind slabs on top of old. Most of the older slabs have gained strength, but fresh drifts continue to form. Be alert to recent deposits of wind drifted snow on the lee sides of ridge crests and terrain features. They are often recognizable by their smooth, rounded appearance, and they may sound, and feel hollow underneath. Cracking in the snow surface is a sign of instability.

Snow stability tests are showing varying degrees of reactivity with regard to buried, persistent weak layers. Our primary layer of concern is the early December snow that has turned into weak, sugary facets on top of the October crust. Where the snowpack is deepest, this layer is mostly non-reactive. Where the pack is shallow and weak, alarming results occasionally pop up. This puts us squarely in the MODERATE category where deep and dangerous, human triggered avalanches are still possible. And as our old buddy Clint would say, "Do you feel lucky?" You are most likely to encounter this problem on steep slopes at mid and upper elevations that face NW-N-E. The only way to know for sure will be to perform your own stability test on a slope by slope basis.