The last reported persistent slab avalanche occurred over a week ago, and details can be found, here. It is becoming increasingly difficult to trigger an avalanche that fails into old, faceted snow near the ground, but recent snow stability tests and overall poor structure indicate that it is still a player. What's concerning is that we're not seeing or experiencing many red flags or warning signs like cracking or collapsing, and the snowpack feels solid under our rigs or skis when we are riding. This is especially tricky because we could put 100 sled tracks on a slope without any consequence, but all the 101st rider needs to do is find a shallow point in the snowpack around a bush, rock, or noticeably thin spot where you can affect the weak layer. This is why tracks on a slope do not mean it's safe when dealing with today's avalanche dragon.

Persistent slabs are tricky and not manageable with a ski or side-hill sled cut. Instead, avoidance is the go-to tool and should be practiced often.

When getting into the blueprints of the snowpack, we have to keep it simple. The biggest warning sign in the photo above is poor structure. We have a dense, strong slab sitting over weak faceted snow near the ground, and that is enough evidence to steer me away from any steep slopes that may have this setup.

Sustained winds blowing from the southwest averaging between 20 and 30 MPH, gusting into the 50's loaded mid and upper elevations leeward slopes facing northwest through southeast. Here, fresh, dense wind-drifts 6-12" deep sit above a variety of interfaces, including facets, rime, crusts, and old decomposing snow. My greatest concern is where fresh drifts have overloaded old, faceted snow near the ground, and once triggered, will turn a relatively small and manageable avalanche into a deep, and potentially life-threatening slide.

Im avoiding fat, rounded pillows that look textured or may sound hollow like a drum under my ride on specific terrain features like convex rolls, chutes, gully walls, and cut banks. And as always, keep an eye on ever-growing cornices as they may be extra sensitive today, break back further than you might expect.