Winds finally relaxed early this morning and that's good news. However, several days of nuking winds, coupled with dense, heavy snow created upside-down layering. Yesterday, we found stronger snow resting on top of lighter density snow from last week and we easily triggered sensitive wind slabs from a distance. In addition to tricky, trap door riding conditions, denser wind driven snow rests on slick heat crusts on sunny slopes. In either case, it's a dangerous combination in our mountains. As a matter of fact, several experienced backcountry riders voiced their surprise at how far yesterday's avalanches were traveling downslope and they were packing a punch.

I think recent wind drifts won't be nearly as hair trigger as yesterday, but as the snow gains strength it will allow us to get onto steeper, more avalanche prone terrain. So let's exercise a little patience, let the snow heal for another minute or two and apply the best rule of thumb to avoid a close call and simply avoid steep wind drifted slopes, especially if they look fat and rounded or feel hollow and sound like a drum. Done and done.