The likelihood of triggering an avalanche breaking into weak snow near the ground is going down, but it is still possible as a rider. Recent storms over the past few weeks have laid down a hefty slab on top of a combo of early season, rotten snow, and holiday rain and melt-freeze crusts. Although the riding is feeling 5-star on an almost go anywhere base, I can still trigger a large slide a couple of feet deep and a hundred feet wide or so that could instantly kill my day. The riding is too good all over the map, and my rig is finding its fair share out of the dragon's den, on sunny slopes or less steep, technical terrain under 30 degrees.
Throughout travels today noted lots of old avalanches covered up by the mid-week storm, with a few fresher, sharper-looking wind drifts that broke within the past 48 hours.
Lots of wind moving up high today. Cold wind blowing from the north, northeast was funneling snow in all directions and cross-loading many slopes on north through southeast aspects.
Quite a few riders were stepping out into bigger terrain without triggering avalanches, but I am still avoiding slopes like the one above.
