Above, is a northeast facing slope around 10,500'. This is an excellent photo displaying the nature of persistent slab avalanches -- If you trigger or see one on a north facing slope at 10,500', there is a good chance you will trigger or see another one on a north facing slope at 10,500' (via Ted S.).

It is a tricky game right now as rotten November snow turned persistent weak layer sits beneath a strong, cohesive slab that has developed from storms and strong winds. Recent avalanches failing 1-3 feet deep are specific to mid and upper elevation terrain on the north half of the compass. Here's the challenge.... In protected, mid-elevation terrain, the slab is soft, nearing 4F hand hardness, and we are seeing fewer red flags. But at upper elevations in the wind zone, the slab is denser and closer to 1F hand hardness, and you will notice a significant increase in the amount of shooting cracks and audible collapses you observe. With that in mind, we can't let our guard down, and avalanches are still occurring in protected terrain where the slab is not as evident.

Remember, we can trigger persistent slab avalanches remotely or from a distance. Once initiated, today's persistent slab avalanches may break wider than you think, taking you for a ride and stringing you through rocks, trees, stumps, and anything else that is in your way on the slide down.

Red flags kept us on our toes on the north half of the compass and are not to be ignored. We observed tons of audible collapses and cracks that were shooting out hundreds of feet up and down slopes as we rode throughout our day.

A steep, thin, and rocky ridge on a north facing slope around 10,300' that has a dense wind-drift in the starting zone.

Moderate to strong winds over the past 48 hours, gusting into the 40's and 50's, continue to add to the depth of our wind slab problem that is currently failing 6-24" deep on a variety of snow surfaces. On mid and upper elevation slopes facing northwest through southeast, look for and avoid dense, textured, rounded pillows of snow, especially if they sound hollow like a drum. I'd also steer clear of cross-loaded terrain features like chutes, gully walls, and cut banks that may look wind-loaded.

Remember, stiff, hard slabs can feel supportable and solid under our rig and allow us to get far out onto the slope before they are triggered. Loose some elevation and seek out wind-sheltered terrain where you'll find supportable snow and better riding conditions with less avalanche hazard.