Last weeks storm overloaded our midpack weaknesses and the region has seen its fair share of both natural and human triggered avalanches. Problem is... many slopes hang in the balance waiting for a trigger to come along and knock the legs out from under the slab. Upper elevation, steep, rocky terrain facing the north half of the compass is the common denominator. Today's new snow will be light and fluffy and make us forget the inherently sketchy structure we're riding on. One thing is certain- once triggered, today's avalanches have the potential to break wide and deep, taking out the entire seasons snowpack, producing a very dangerous and possibly unsurvivable slide. Even if you're carving in low angle meadows make sure there's no steep slopes above or adjacent to where you're riding.

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This recent slide in the Superbowl was triggered low on the slope and broke into old snow around the steep, rocky, windloaded break-over. Fortunately the rider came out unscathed and all is good.

Periods of heavy snow and gusty winds this afternoon will conspire to create wind drifts sensitive to the weight of a rider. Today you'll want to avoid steep leeward slopes, especially those with recent deposits of wind drifted snow. Avalanches triggered within the new snow can easily break deeper and wider than you might expect.