If traveling to the upper elevations, you will be able to trigger large avalanches at a distance today that fracture down into the old weak snow from October/November. This weak basal stack of cards exists primarily on westerly to northerly to easterly aspects These avalanches may be 2-3' deep and hundreds of feet wide. They are not to be messed with. Cracking and collapsing state the obvious, as it were, but the only prudent terrain choices are on low angle terrain today.

You'll find an endless supply of soft slabs of wind drifted snow in a variety of encatchment areas, both along the ridgelines and well below. These large smooth pillows may be up to 3' deep or more in exposed terrain and will also be sensitive to the weight of a backcountry traveler. Be aware that the cornices are growing and becoming unstable - any cornice fall is likely to trigger an avalanche below.

Heavy dense snowfall is coming in on a warming trend and is "upside-down"; that is - higher density snow falling on lower density snow - and it's a recipe for trouble. Similarly, rain on snow at the lowest elevations will lead to unstable wet snow conditions. Shooting cracks are a clear sign of instability (Brackelsberg photo)