Our intended tour was up Bowman Fork to White Fir Pass. However, about a third of a mile on the Bowman Fork trail, we decided to turn around given we were easily triggering soft slab avalanches failing within the new snow. These avalanches were shallow (< 15 cms/6"), but the terrain we were traveling through had some steeper slopes above a narrow gully and we chose to not enter into this terrain trap.

South and west-facing slopes that are often brushy at these low elevations are smooth from a deep snowpack, and avalanches are running fast and far. Although we were familiar with this terrain, it was an easy choice to turn around given the sensitive storm snow and unusual conditions.

Photos of shallow avalanches and houses along the Porter Fork road.

Video (that was also posted to social media) describing our turn-around point.