Today you may find a few fresh, shallow wind slabs along NE-E facing upper elevation ridge crests. These shouldn't pose too much of a threat. Triggering an old wind slab is becoming increasingly less likely, but a triggered wind slab also has the potential to step down into a buried, persistent weak layer causing a deeper and more dangerous avalanche. Avoid steep slopes that look to be heavily wind-loaded, or that have a smooth, rounded appearance.

Areas with poor snowpack structure continue to be observed but weak layers are displaying varying degrees of reactivity. Dave Garcia's party discovered a reactive weak layer yesterday on a NW aspect at 10,150'. Some shallow snowpack areas are also developing a layer of weak, sugary, faceted snow near the ground. Prudent backcountry travelers will perform their own stability analyses before jumping into the steep and deep. You are most likely to trigger an avalanche on a buried persistent weak layer on north-facing slopes that are heavily wind-loaded, or in areas with rocky, radical terrain that have a shallow snowpack.

Note the persistent weak layer in the snowpit wall. Travis Nauman photo.